crenel

[ kren-l ]

noun

1. any of the open spaces between the merlons of a battlement.
2. a crenature.

verb (used with object)

, cren·eled, cren·el·ing or (especially British) cren·elled, cren·el·ling.

1. to crenelate.

crenel

/ ˈkrɛnəl; krɪˈnɛl /

noun

1. any of a set of openings formed in the top of a wall or parapet and having slanting sides, as in a battlement
2. another name for crenation

Word History and Origins

Origin of crenel¹

1475–85; earlier creneul, crennel < Middle French, Old French, apparently diminutive of cren notch (attested since the 15th century), Old French cran, of uncertain origin; crenate, cranny

Word History and Origins

Origin of crenel¹

C15: from Old French, literally: a little notch, from cren notch, from Late Latin crēna

Example Sentences

He knocked aside the wall of fresh-fallen snow filling up the crenel and leaned out between the merlons.

From Literature

A bolt passed within a foot of him, shattering the crust of frozen snow that had plugged the closest crenel.

From Literature

Last year, Congress created the “Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories,” and in Washington it didn’t take long for a new acronym, “CRENEL,” to be born.

From US News

On the inside of the rampart and in the wide crenel between two upthrust merlons.

From Literature

"Blood," he announced, "clumsily mopped up. At a guess, the woman killed Drennan and lowered the drawbridge. Squint heard the clank of chains, came to have a look, and got this far. They pushed the corpse through the crenel into the moat so he wouldn't be found by another sentry."

From Literature

Related Words

• incision
• indentation