casemate

American  

[keys-meyt] / ˈkeɪsˌmeɪt /

noun

1. an armored enclosure for guns in a warship.

2. a vault or chamber, especially in a rampart, with embrasures for artillery.

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casemate British  

/ ˈkeɪsˌmeɪt /

noun

1. an armoured compartment in a ship or fortification in which guns are mounted

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Other Word Forms

• casemated adjective
• uncasemated adjective

Etymology

Origin of casemate

1565–75; < Middle French < Old Italian casamatta, alteration (by folk etymology) of Greek chásmata embrasures, literally, openings, plural of chásma chasm

Example Sentences

The three large sections of the Georgia's armored casemate, however, proved too heavy to raise without cutting them down into smaller pieces.

From US News • Aug. 16, 2015

In the middle was a trapezoid- shaped casemate with slats on each side for cannons.

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan

But dawn was shining in through the loopholes of the casemate ere I unclosed my eyes to the world again, and the drums and fifes were playing, the sun above the horizon.

From Cardigan by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)

Cascabel instantly ordered full head of steam to be put on, and the ship, gathering headway, dashed down upon the Tennessee, striking her at right angles, near the after part of the casemate.

From Brave Old Salt or, Life on the Quarter Deck by Optic, Oliver

The central fort or citadel is flanked by a double line of works with three tiers of casemate batteries.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 1 "Edwardes" to "Ehrenbreitstein" by Various