The spelling of the word "sea defence" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic transcription. The first syllable "sea" is pronounced /siː/ with a long vowel sound of "ee". The second syllable "de-fence" is pronounced /dɪˈfɛns/ with emphasis on the second syllable "fence" and a short vowel sound of "i". The spelling of "defence" with a "c" instead of the American English "s" is due to British English spelling conventions. The word refers to structures built to protect coastal areas from the effects of the sea.
Sea defence refers to a range of physical structures, measures, and techniques put in place to protect coastal areas and human habitation from the erosive forces of the sea. It involves the construction of various barriers and systems with the primary aim of preventing or minimizing coastal erosion, coastal flooding, and the subsequent damage caused by waves, tides, and storms.
These defence mechanisms are typically built along the shoreline or near coastal areas that are at risk. They serve as protective buffers, absorbing and dissipating the energy of incoming waves, thus reducing the force exerted on the coast. Sea defences come in different forms, including seawalls, revetments, gabions, breakwaters, and groynes, each with its specific purpose and design.
Seawalls are solid structures built parallel to the shoreline and act as barriers, shielding the land behind them from tidal action and wave impact. Revetments are sloping structures made of rock or concrete that help absorb wave energy while preventing shoreline erosion. Gabions, on the other hand, comprise wire mesh cages filled with stones and are used to build walls or slopes.
Breakwaters are offshore barriers constructed parallel to the coastline, intended to protect the shoreline by breaking the force of incoming waves. Groynes, meanwhile, are constructed perpendicular to the shore and function by trapping sediments and slowing down beach erosion caused by longshore currents.
Overall, sea defences are crucial elements of coastal engineering as they play a vital role in protecting human lives, infrastructure, and ecosystems from the damaging effects of sea-level rise, storms, and coastal erosion.
The word "sea defence" originates from the combination of two words: "sea" and "defence".
The word "sea" traces back to the Old English word "sǣ", which is derived from the Proto-Germanic language, meaning "sea" or "lake". It is related to words in other Germanic languages such as Dutch "zee", German "See", and Old Norse "sær".
On the other hand, the word "defence" comes from the Latin word "defendere", which means "to ward off or protect". It entered the English vocabulary through the Old French word "defens", which carried the same meaning. The word "defence" has evolved from the Latin word, retaining its basic meaning of protecting, guarding, or resisting an attack or threat.