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châtelet

châtelet

9.9
A small building like a castle that guards the entrance to a town in the past
  • noun
  • /ʃætˈlɛt/
  • Archaic
: châtelet
  • The ancient châtelet stood at the entrance to the walled city, protecting it from invaders.

Examples

  • Visitors admired the stonework of the restored châtelet at the castle's main gate.

  • A narrow bridge led directly to the châtelet, which once controlled access to the fortress.

  • The ancient châtelet stood guard over the village.

  • Many châtelets were built during the medieval period.

  • The ancient châtelet stood at the entrance to the walled city, protecting it from invaders.

  • Visitors admired the stonework of the restored châtelet at the castle's main gate.

  • A narrow bridge led directly to the châtelet, which once controlled access to the fortress.

Synonyms

guardhouse
vschâtelet
5 4.9

A small building at an entrance where guards stay and sometimes keep prisoners

is a fortified small castle mainly used to defend medieval entrances
gatehouse
vschâtelet
3 6.2

A small building by the entrance to a large house or castle that helps control who can enter

is a fortified small castle serving defensive functions at medieval entrances

How Fortified

fortress
113 4.4
castle
492 1.7
châtelet
  • Archaic
9.9
gatehouse
3 6.2

Surface Forms

châtelet singular
châtelets plural
chatelets plural
chatelet singular

Etymology

Châtelet comes from the French word château ('castle') plus the ending -et ('little'), so it means 'small castle'. A helpful image is a little stone gate or tower that guards an entrance, which is why a châtelet is a small fortified gatehouse.