barbette

¹

[ bahr-bet ]

noun

1. (within a fortification) a platform or mound of earth from which guns may be fired over the parapet instead of through embrasures.
2. Navy. an armored cylinder for protecting the lower part of a turret on a warship.

Barbette

²

[ bahr-bet ]

noun

1. a first name, form of Barbara.

barbette

/ bɑːˈbɛt /

noun

1. (formerly) an earthen platform inside a parapet, from which heavy guns could fire over the top
2. an armoured cylinder below a turret on a warship that protects the revolving structure and foundation of the turret

Word History and Origins

Origin of barbette¹

1765–75; < French, equivalent to barbe beard + -ette -ette, probably from the general metaphorical use of barbe for something which protrudes or faces outward

Word History and Origins

Origin of barbette¹

C18: from French, diminutive of barbe a nun's barb ¹, from a fancied similarity between the earthwork around a cannon and this part of a nun's habit

Example Sentences

Eerie images of the Kaga captured by an undersea drone show a starboard side gun, a 20 cm gun, a gun mount and a barbette, or gun emplacement.

From Fox News

En barbette, In barbette, said of guns when they are elevated so as to fire over the top of a parapet, and not through embrasures.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a parallelogram, and mounted barbette guns only.

From Project Gutenberg

The cannon were well mounted, and placed in barbette and embrasure.

From Project Gutenberg

Almost simultaneously the six secondary armament guns added their quota of death and destruction to the slower crash of the heavier weapons in the barbettes.

From Project Gutenberg