Pier

A pier was originally a raised walkway over water that is supported by piles or pillars, as opposed to a quay or wharf. The original function was to provide access to the water either for loading and unloading facilities for boats or for ritual purposes. Today the most common form of pier is the industrial pier which can be found at ports and marinas throughout the world.

Related Topics:
Pile - Pillars - Quay - Wharf - Marina

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A pier may be open air, closed, or partly open, partly closed. Sometimes a pier has two decks.

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Alternate definition: Pier is also the name of the concrete base that supports each of the pillars on which a bridge lies.

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