Dictionary

Basic forms of fortification

Multilingual Fortification Dictionary

The Multilingual Fortification Dictionary (MFD) contains a illustrated list of fortifications and their translations in multiple languages ; The initiative for founding this dictionary came from Mr. Carlos Scheltema, IFC general secretary, honorary member of the Stichting Menno van Coehoorn and ICOMOS, in 2005.

In 2018, the IFC initiate the publication of the MFD on our website. We complete some definition and translation since now and we can propose the translation in 12 language (Croatian, Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish).

The IFC is considering to add new languages and new time periods, eventually including the ‘concrete’ and ‘reinforced concrete century’. IFC and will cooperate. Due to various circumstances work on the dictionary came to a standstill. Apart from that the layout of the dictionary’s website is outdated. The IFC plans on restarting the work on the dictionary and giving the website a new and modern look.. In October 2025, our general assembly in Evora (Portugal) decided to resume work on the dictionary in order to update it in light of research conducted in recent years on fortifications EFFORTS and to provide translations for new term.

Il some terms can be translate easely, for a definition of the World War II Atlantikwall (Sudwall and Siegfried line), see: /files/Atlantikwall_definition_of_a_phenomenon.pdf

You are invited to use the dictionary and to send comments etc. to the Secretariat (secretariat@internationalfortresscoucil.org ), that will forward the comments to the Multilingual Fortification Dictionary Working Group

Basic forms of fortification

FORMS OF BASTIONS : A07

A07a: A07b: bastion (New Italian system) A07c: bastion (old Dutch system) A07d: bastion (improved Dutch system) A07e: bastion (Vauban system) A07f: bastion (new Dutch system) English bastion (Old Italian system)

Basic forms of fortification

FORMS OF BASTIONS : A08

A08a A08b A08c English hollow (empty) bastion bastion, solid, with cat (cavalier) bastion, solid, with cat (cavalier) Croatian šuplji bastion, prazni bastion puni bastion s kavalirom puni bastion s kavalirom

Basic forms of fortification

FORMS OF BASTIONS: A09

English bastion, round bastion, almond shaped bastion, rounded bastion, tenailled bastion, mixed form bastion, rectangular Croatian rondela, kružni bastion bastion, bademoliki bastion bastion, zaobljeni bastion bastion, tenalja, škarasti bastion ?

Basic forms of fortification

FORMS OF BASTIONS : A12 a, b, c, d, e

A12 A12a A12b A12c A12d A12e English earthwork, quadrangular, bastioned earthwork, quadrangular with half bastions earthwork, triangular, bastioned earthwork, triangular with half bastions Croatian kvadratno utvrđenje s bastionima kvadratno utvrđenje

Basic forms of fortification

FORMS OF BASTIONS : A13

A13 English starfort, fort of stellar trace Croatian zvjezdoliko utvrđenje Czech hvězda Dutch sterrenschansen French ouvrage tenaillé (un), ouvrage en étoile (un) German Sternschanze (f) / Sternwerk (n) Italian Ridotte

Extensions, annexes, superstructures, expansions

FORMS OF MERLON B0 a, b, c, d, e

Croatian B01 B01b B01c B01d B01e English Croatian Czech různé druhy cimbuří Dutch muurvertandingen French parapeito com ameias rectangulares merlon à chaperon (m) German Zinne (f), verschiedene Formen Dachzinne (f)