Martello tower

or martello tower

[ mahr-tel-oh ]

noun

, Fortification.

1. a circular, towerlike fort with guns on the top.

Martello tower

/ mɑːˈtɛləʊ /

noun

1. a small circular tower for coastal defence, formerly much used in Europe

Word History and Origins

Origin of Martello tower¹

Named after Cape Mortella, Corsica, where a tower of this kind was taken by British forces in 1794

Word History and Origins

Origin of Martello tower¹

C18: after Cape Mortella in Corsica, where the British navy captured a tower of this type in 1794

Example Sentences

It was U2's Bono who lent him a Martello Tower to live in when he parted from The Pogues and it was Sinead O'Connor who famously reported him to the police when she despaired of his heroin habit.

From BBC

Radical folk band Lankum worked on their fourth album in County Wexford while living in a Martello Tower - one of more than 100 artillery forts built in the 19th Century as a defence against Napoleon's invading forces.

From BBC

Much of it takes place along the coast, overlooking the Irish Sea, including key scenes shot at rocky bathing spot Forty Foot, in Sandycove, below the Martello tower where James Joyce stayed and “Ulysses” opens.

From Los Angeles Times

In June 1962, the James Joyce Museum was opened by Beach in the Martello Tower in the south Dublin suburb of Sandycove.

From BBC

"You could walk on the beach or along the clifftop to the Martello Tower," added Mr Kennell.

From BBC