machicolation

1 synonym for machicolation, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — An opening in a projecting parapet or gallery floor of a fortified building, through which defenders could shoot at or drop objects on attackers below.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

machicoulis

How to use machicolation

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

machicolated parapet row of machicolations projecting machicolation

It is a specialist term used in architecture and castle history rather than everyday speech.

Etymology

The word comes from Late Latin machicolamentum, formed with the suffix -ation, which marks an action or process. That earlier term is thought to combine an Old French word for chewing or crushing with another meaning neck, joined to a Latin ending for an instrument or result.

Full origin of machicolation →

Frequently asked questions

What is a machicolation?

It is an opening built into a castle's parapet or gallery floor that let defenders attack or drop things on enemies at the base of the wall.

What were machicolations used for?

Defenders used them to shoot at or drop heated materials and other objects onto attackers who had reached the foot of the walls.

Where would you find machicolations?

They appear on fortified buildings such as medieval castles, usually along the top of a wall or above a gateway.

Nearby words

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