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Glite Dictionary
barbican

barbican

1 9.9
A strong tower outside a castle that defends the gate
  • noun
  • /ˈbɑːrbɪkən/
translation icon : barbacana
  • The soldiers stood watch on the barbican to protect the castle from enemy attacks.

Examples

  • As soon as the first stone ball from Baron Raimond's trebuchet smashes into my tower's walls, I shall order the gates open, the barbican's drawbridge lowered, and all arms laid down.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Guys, the target is heading towards the Barbican, if you could make your way towards the Barbican.

    Roller Squad (2021)

  • Tomorrow night, the London Symphony Orchestra are giving a concert at their home at the Barbican Centre.

    Zappa (2020)

  • I saw the LSO quite a lot when I worked as a steward at the Barbican Centre during my student days.

    Blog text (18)

  • Other tiny, dark figures swarmed about the walls, barbican, and bailey, like ants disturbed by a boot on their nest.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • The ancient barbican provided a strategic point for archers to defend the city walls.

  • Visitors admired the view from the top of the barbican, which offered a glimpse of the surrounding landscape.

Synonyms

turret
vsbarbican
12 7.2

A small tower on the corner of a building used for looking out

is a larger defensive outpost forming part of outer walls rather than a projection
barbacan
vsbarbican
  • Specialized
9.9

A tower built outside a castle gate to protect the entrance

is used for outer defenses along walls rather than only at gates

Surface Forms

barbican singular
barbicans plural

Etymology

The word barbican comes from an old French word barbacane for a small tower or fortified gate outside a wall. So a barbican is like a gatehouse — a tower that 'guards' the entrance to a castle.