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Glite Dictionary
portcullis

portcullis

1 9.9
A heavy gate of wood or iron with bars that drops down to block a castle entrance
  • noun
  • /ˈpɔrtˌkʌlɪs/
translation icon : puerta de hierro
  • When the enemy approached, the castle guards hurried to lower the portcullis and seal the gate.
  • Raise the portcullis
  • Lower the portcullis
  • heavy portcullis

Examples

  • Beside him is the rope winch that operates the portcullis.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Slowly, the massive portcullis lurched upward.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The portcullis will be open.

    Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

  • We'll do our best... just have your men present in force when the portcullis is raised.

    Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979)

  • Get back behind the portcullis.

    Ironclad (2011)

  • But they couldn't break through the portcullis.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Fighting his way toward the gate, Robin sees with dismay that the portcullis is closed.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Robin and the others try in vain to lift the portcullis.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The portcullis is raised by men-at-arms, admitting a spectacular crimson carriage pulled by a team of snow-white stallions.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Kazak archers swung the gate aside, revealing a dry moat and inner drawbridge, protected by a portcullis at each end.

    Fiction book (2000)

Synonyms

grating
vsportcullis
4 4.7

A metal frame with bars that holds wood in a fireplace

is a heavy vertical barrier lowered to block a fortified gateway

How Secure

portcullis
1 9.9
door
∞ 1.0
gate
793 1.0

Surface Forms

portcullis singular
portcullises plural

Etymology

Portcullis comes from the old French words porte ('gate') and coulisse ('sliding'), so it originally meant 'sliding gate'. A portcullis is therefore a heavy gate that slides down to close a castle entrance.