"fieldwork thrown up breast-high for defense," 1640s, from breast (n.) + work (n.) in "fortification" sense. Old English had breostweall in same sense.
雙語例句
1. I feel very much like an officer who has stormed a breastwork despite his severe wounds.
我有這么一種感覺:仿佛自己是一個不顧身負重創(chuàng),攻下了一個敵軍堡壘的軍官.
來自辭典例句
2. A swarthy boy opened a book and propped it nimbly under the breastwork of his satchel.