[f. prec.]
1. a. trans. To furnish with bulwarks. b. intr. To throw up bulwarks. lit. and fig.
1450. Charter Jas. II., in Maitland, Hist. Edin., II. (1753), 137. Licence to fosse, bullwark, wall, toure, and turote the said Burgh.
c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 187. They espyed … a hous … wel bolwarked and fausbrayed.
1545. Joye, Exp. Dan., iv. 7. The angel of the Lord bulworketh round about the godly.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. vi. 557. The Lord hath Bulwarkt them about.
1657. May, Satir. Puppy, 33. Commits the protection of his whole Body to his Eie-lids, and bullwarks it with closing them, as though he can feele nothing but what he sees.
2. trans. To serve as a bulwark to; to defend, protect, shelter.
1610. Chester’s Tri., Rumor’s Sp., 14. A hideous Dragon—whose thick scales, Like shields … Did bulwarke him.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Penn. Pilgr., Wks. I. 123/2. Well bulwarked by a hedge from raine and winde.
1746. W. Horsley, Fool, No. 21 (1748), I. 146. A General … who … bulwarks Europe against the common Enemy.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 1170. Friends bulwarked him about From infancy to boyhood.
