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Glite Dictionary
barmkin

barmkin

9.9
A defensive wall or enclosed yard around a castle tower
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : barmkin
  • The guide explained how the barmkin once served as the first line of defense.

Examples

  • Archaeologists discovered the remains of a barmkin surrounding the ancient Scottish tower.

  • The villagers took shelter behind the barmkin when raiders approached the castle.

  • The ancient barmkin protected the castle from invaders.

  • In Scotland, many castles feature a barmkin around their towers.

  • The old castle had a tall barmkin that provided protection from intruders.

  • The soldiers gathered behind the barmkin to strategize their next move.

  • Visitors admired the beautiful flowers planted along the barmkin surrounding the fortress.

Synonyms

ring wall
vsbarmkin
  • Specialized
7.5

A circular wall around a village or town that protects people from attack

is a smaller enclosure around a single tower or castle common in Scotland

How Defensive

fortress
106 4.4
rampart
12 8.8
barmkin
  • Archaic
9.9
wall
∞ 1.0
fence
567 1.0

Surface Forms

barmkin singular
barmkins plural

Etymology

Barmkin comes from old Scots for a protected 'yard' around a tower. A helpful way to remember it is to think of bar ('barrier') and kin ('small'), so a barmkin is the small defensive wall or courtyard that protects a tower.