brattice

[ brat-is ]

noun

1. a partition or lining, as of planks or cloth, forming an air passage in a mine.
2. (in medieval architecture) any temporary wooden fortification, especially at the top of a wall.

verb (used with object)

, brat·ticed, brat·tic·ing.

1. to provide with a brattice (often followed by up ).

brattice

/ ˈbrætɪs /

noun

1. a partition of wood or treated cloth used to control ventilation in a mine
2. medieval fortifications a fixed wooden tower or parapet

verb

1. tr mining to fit with a brattice

Word History and Origins

Origin of brattice¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English brutaske, bretage, bretice, from Anglo-French bretaske, bretage, Anglo-French, Old French bretesche “wooden parapet on a fortress,” from Medieval Latin (9th century) brittisca, apparently a Latinized form of Old English Bryttisc “British” (or a new formation in Medieval Latin ), on the presumption that such parapets were introduced from Britain; British

Word History and Origins

Origin of brattice¹

C13: from Old French bretesche wooden tower, from Medieval Latin breteschia , probably from Latin Britō a Briton

Example Sentences

Workers used salt mined from another area of the repository, chain link and brattice cloth to build barriers on each end of the storage bunker.

From Washington Times

The air currents are cunningly guided by partitions or "brattices," so that every nook and corner shall be scoured out by the plentiful draught of pure fresh air.

From Project Gutenberg

In many cases a light but air-proof cloth, specially made for the purpose, is used instead of wood for brattices, as being more handy and more easily removed.

From Project Gutenberg

Diving away in the crowd Of sparkling frets in spray, The bratticed wrackers are singing aloud, And the throngers croon in May!

From Project Gutenberg

Below the panels is a brattice of Purbeck marble—from this at the angles rise octagonal columns supporting angels, which again support a canopy of elaborate work.

From Project Gutenberg