portcullis

[ pawrt-kuhl-is, pohrt- ]

noun

1. (especially in medieval castles) a strong grating, as of iron, made to slide along vertical grooves at the sides of a gateway of a fortified place and let down to prevent passage.

portcullis

/ pɔːtˈkʌlɪs /

noun

1. an iron or wooden grating suspended vertically in grooves in the gateway of a castle or fortified town and able to be lowered so as to bar the entrance

Word History and Origins

Origin of portcullis¹

1300–50; Middle English portecolys < Middle French porte coleice, equivalent to porte port ⁴ + coleice, feminine of coleis flowing, sliding < Vulgar Latin *cōlātīcius; coulee, -itious

Word History and Origins

Origin of portcullis¹

C14 port colice, from Old French porte coleïce sliding gate, from porte door, entrance + coleïce, from couler to slide, flow, from Late Latin cōlāre to filter

Example Sentences

Raise-and-lower drawbridge and portcullis, now with hidden chains and counterweights built right into the set, instead of the exposed strings I had as a kid.

From The Verge

Early on in Covid, the decision was taken to pull up the drawbridge and shutter the portcullis.

From BBC

It features a moat, waterfall, drawbridge, portcullis, 26 rooms, elevator, 5 fireplaces, 6 new furnaces, secret rooms, hidden doors, hidden passageways, hidden staircase, wine cellar, Tudor style pub, and a few more surprises.”

From Washington Times

The oil is boiling in the cauldrons and the portcullis has been installed at a ground he aims to turn into “a fortress”.

From The Guardian

The shilling has a mint mark — a tiny image of a castle portcullis — that dates it.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• bar
• door
• doorway
• exit
• fence
• port