Definition

The action of climbing up or over something, especially a wall or fortification.

Example

The soldiers planned an escalade to breach the castle walls.

Conversation

Did you hear about the old castle they found on the hike?

Yeah, I read that it has an impressive escalade on the north side.

That sounds exciting! I’d love to see how they built it.

For sure, scaling those walls must have been quite a challenge!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Escalade is derived from the French word 'escalade', which comes from 'escalader' (meaning to scale or climb), itself from 'escalier' (meaning staircase). The word refers to the act of scaling or climbing, particularly in a military context, such as climbing walls or fortifications.

Memory Tip

Imagine climbing a 'staircase' ('escalier') to remember that 'escalade' means to scale or climb, especially in a challenging situation.

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