barbican

American  

[bahr-bi-kuhn] / ˈbɑr bɪ kən /

noun

1. an outwork of a fortified place, as a castle.

2. a defensive outpost of any sort.

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barbican ¹ British  

/ ˈbɑːbɪkən /

noun

1. a walled outwork or tower to protect a gate or drawbridge of a fortification

2. a watchtower projecting from a fortification

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Barbican ² British  

/ ˈbɑːbɪkən /

noun

1. a building complex in the City of London: includes residential developments and the Barbican Arts Centre (completed 1982) housing concert and exhibition halls, theatres, cinemas, etc

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Etymology

Origin of barbican

1250–1300; Middle English barbecan, barbican < Old French barbacane or Medieval Latin barbacana, perhaps ≪ Persian bālāḥāna terrace over a roof, upper floor, altered by association with Latin barba beard, a beard marking the front or face of a thing