portcullis

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“
After a brief space, the portcullis was again raised, the gates flung wide apart, and the men-at-arms were discerned lining either side, in all due form and homage to the officers of their sovereign.

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Definitions (10)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. noun A grating of iron or wooden bars or slats, suspended in the gateway of a fortified place and lowered to block passage.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (6)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

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Examples (50)

  • Godfather, please see that the northern portcullis is also opened so we may proceed across the river, and demolish the winch mechanism so that the grates cannot be lowered again. —  Julian, May - Boreal Moon 01 - Conqueror's Moon
  • They could not exit through the front gate, because the portcullis was firm and they did not understand the mechanism for lifting it. —  A Spell for Chameleon
  • The portcullis was actually a giant skull with pointed fangs. —  Demons Don't Dream
  • Bubbles looked up at the deadly fangs of the portcullis, and her tail dropped low. —  Demons Don't Dream
  • “The same.” He gestured to his guard to raise the portcullis, ad­mitting us into the fortress proper. —  Kushiel’s Avatar
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Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English port-colice, from Old French porte coleice, sliding gate : porte, gate (from Latin porta; see per-2 in Indo-European roots) + coleice, feminine of coleis, sliding (from Vulgar Latin *cōlātīcius, from Latin cōlātus, past participle of cōlāre, to filter, strain, from cōlum, sieve).

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Early modern English also portcullize, porcullis, purculleise, percullis, percollis, percollice, percollois, etc.; from Middle English portcullise, portcolise, poort colyce, porte colyse, from Old French porte coleïce, porte coulisse, porte colice, a sliding gate, portcullis, from porte (from Latin porta, door) + coleïce, coulisse, adjective (also as a noun, coulisse, a sliding gate, portcullis, French coulisse, a groove), feminine of coleïs, coulis, French coulis, sliding, from Middle Latin *colaticius, from colatus, past participle of colare, flow, from Latin colare, strain: see colander, cullis, cullis, etc.
  2. from portcullis, n.
 

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/poʊrtˈkəlɪs/
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