Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun See barbican.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun See barbican.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Archaic spelling of barbican.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a tower that is part of a defensive structure (such as a castle)

Etymologies

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Examples

  • At the foot of one of these barren gray rocks, which, from its shape and perforation, exactly resembles the barbacan and gate of a castle, St. Remy is situated.

    Itinerary of Provence and the Rhone Made During the Year 1819 John Hughes

  • I am not sure that we did not half expect to meet M. de St. Vallier himself, (a good baronial name) cap-a-pie at the barbacan gate, his lance in rest, and his visor down, like Sir Boucicault, or the Lord de Roye, or the doughtiest of Froissart's heroes.

    Itinerary of Provence and the Rhone Made During the Year 1819 John Hughes

  • Porte Bouvreuil, and the barbacan at the bridge; and his own palace began to rise near the Tour Malsifrotte and the Porte du Pré de la

    The Story of Rouen Theodore Andrea Cook 1897

  • Across the Seine, the whole of the ruined faubourg of St. Sever was under the command of John Holland, Earl of Huntingdon, whose business it was to guard the barbacan, or fortress at the south end of the bridge, and to keep up the English communications with the south of

    The Story of Rouen Theodore Andrea Cook 1897

  • The sentinels could be seen upon the ramparts, standing like statues of stone, and showing no signs of life; while above the barbacan gate the watchman was at his post, motionless and asleep.

    The Story of Siegfried James Baldwin 1883

  • So watchful and skilful were the besieged, that the greatest havoc had been made amongst the men employed in working the engines, and not yet had even the palisades and barbacan been successfully stormed.

    The Days of Bruce Vol 1 A Story from Scottish History Grace Aguilar 1831

  • "Pity thou art already a knight, Nigel!" bluffly exclaimed Seaton, springing into his saddle by torchlight the following morning, as with a gallant band he was about dashing over the drawbridge, to second the defenders of the barbacan and palisades.

    The Days of Bruce Vol 1 A Story from Scottish History Grace Aguilar 1831

  • The progress they had made in their work the first day, while the attention of the Scotch had been confined to the attack on the barbacan, was all-sufficient evidence of their intent; and with bitter sorrow Sir Nigel and his brother-in-law felt that their only means of any efficient defence lay in resigning the long-contested barbacan to the besiegers.

    The Days of Bruce Vol 1 A Story from Scottish History Grace Aguilar 1831

  • The outworks he found in excellent condition; the barbacan, of massive stone, seemed well enabled to resist attack, should it be made; the machinery of the drawbridge was in good order, and enabled to be drawn up or let down at

    The Days of Bruce Vol 1 A Story from Scottish History Grace Aguilar 1831

  • The ruins were with some labor cleared away, the remains of the outer wall levelled with the earth, except the tower communicating with the drawbridge and barbacan, which could be easily repaired.

    The Days of Bruce Vol 1 A Story from Scottish History Grace Aguilar 1831

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