çeperi

Çeperi is a Turkish term referring to the parapet or outer defensive wall of a fortress, citadel, or walled city. The word derives from Turkish çeper, with the suffix -i forming a definite or possessive reference in historical descriptions, effectively pointing to the outer wall that forms the boundary of a fortification.

In Ottoman fortifications, the çeperi comprised the outer line of defense surrounding the enceinte, often integrating towers and gates. It delineated the outer perimeter within which a settlement or stronghold was protected, with inner walls and courtyards situated inside. The term frequently appears in historical narratives, architectural descriptions, and military reports to convey the extent and arrangement of fortifications. In travel writing or archaeology, references to a city’s çeperi help signal its outer limits or the boundary area before urban expansion.

Today, the term is primarily encountered in historical, architectural, and literary contexts. In ordinary Turkish usage, çeper describes a parapet or wall, while çeperi tends to appear in scholarly or poetic language when discussing the outer boundary of a fortress or city. See also fortification, rampart, parapet, city wall.