wing wall

English

Noun

wing wall (plural wing walls)

1. (construction) In a bridge, a retaining wall on either side of an abutment.
   • 2023 May 3, Philip Haigh, “The art and science of building bridges”, in RAIL, number 982, page 40:

     Such an abutment would typically have wing walls that have sloping tops, to match the profile of the embankment. The wing walls are usually angled back from the abutment wall.

2. With a tunnel, a retaining wall on either side of the portal.
   • 1953 December, “Notes and News: Ampthill Tunnels, L.M.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 854:

     The later tunnel has a portal of blue engineering bricks, and the curved wing walls are wider than those of the old tunnel, which has a rather cramped appearance.