1. the act of climbing or scaling walls, especially of a fortified place during an assault
Usage: archaic; military

Examples

• The medieval army attempted a scalade of the castle walls.
• Historical accounts describe the scalade as a dangerous but sometimes necessary military tactic.
• The fortress was designed to prevent scalade by enemy forces.
• Soldiers prepared ladders and ropes for the scalade at dawn.
• The successful scalade led to the capture of the stronghold.