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Glite Dictionary
crenelation

crenelation

9.9
A low wall with regular gaps at the top of a castle for soldiers to shoot or watch
  • noun
  • /ˌkrɛnəˈleɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : merlonera
  • "The baron has issued his warning," said Angela grimly as she climbed up between the crenelations at the edge of the tower.

Examples

  • The castle's high walls were topped with crenelations, providing defenders with a strategic advantage during battles.

  • I showed her an orange one with crenelations.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The crenelation and turrets look real, or almost real, in the dimness.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Only a handful of armed men stood at the crenelations, scanning the world beyond the lake.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • They stood ready; Lady Angela crouched between the crenelations while her people held the plunge cape spread above her like a huge green awning.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • The best scenario I can see here is that Jen gets her well-deserved break, but not a single merlon in this castle's crenelations is weakened, and no firepower is lost from the ranks of FtB's firing line.

    Blog text (2)

  • As he climbed to the roof, he admired the crenelations that allowed archers to shoot at their enemies while remaining protected.

  • The ancient fortress featured impressive crenelations, which were designed for both observation and defense against invaders.

Synonyms

battlement
vscrenelation
14 8.0

A low wall on top of a castle with regular gaps for soldiers to shoot through

is the general defensive wall feature found at a castle top
embattlement
vscrenelation
1 8.4

A low wall with regular gaps on top of a castle for defenders to shoot from

is used specifically for a defensive top structure on a fortress
crenellation
vscrenelation
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A row of low wall sections with gaps along the top of a castle to protect defenders

is the defensive wall feature rather than a decorative row

How Fortified

fortification
  • Specialized
2 8.1
rampart
12 8.8
crenelation
  • Specialized
9.9
battlement
14 8.0
parapet
8 7.2

Surface Forms

crenelation singular
crenelations plural

Morphology

crenelation = crenelate (semi-transparent) = crenel + ate + ion

The noun is derived by adding -ion to the verb 'crenelate' in a regular way, but both the verb and the root 'crenel' are relatively uncommon, so the formation may not be obvious to many learners.

Etymology

The word crenelation comes from an old word crenel meaning a 'notch' or small 'gap'. Think of the top of a castle wall as a line of tooth-like notches that let defenders look and shoot through the openings, which is why crenelation means the toothed top of a wall with regular gaps.