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

Terry Wiggins, a chef who leads the catering team at Westminster's Portcullis House, is retiring this month after 50 years.

From BBC

We’re in the Debate canteen in Portcullis House, the relatively new building beside the River Thames where many MPs have their offices.

From BBC

“Of course,” he said in an interview this week in Portcullis House, the parliamentary office building across the street from Big Ben.

From New York Times

Asked by waiting reporters and TV cameras outside Portcullis House in Westminster, where he’s due to face MPs at 13:00 GMT, Staunton was asked if he was looking forward to setting out his side of the story.

From BBC

The alleged slap is said to have taken place in the atrium of Portcullis House.

From BBC

Related Words

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