battlement means in fortification: an indented parapet, formed by a series of rising members called cops or merlons, separated by openings called crenelles or embrasures, the soldier sheltering himself behind the merlon while he fires through the embrasure or through a loophole in the battlement. It carries an Arena rating of 1645, earned across 8 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, battlement ranks #5,323 of 12,589 for Funniest Words, #5,548 of 12,568 for Most Beautiful Words, #5,598 of 12,350 for Most Sublime Words, #6,197 of 12,568 for Most Satisfying to Say.
battlement is pronounced [ˈbætəɫmənt].
Why “battlement” is a great word
A defensive parapet formed by a repeating pattern of raised, solid merlons and lower, open crenels, allowing defenders to shelter and shoot. Its name descends from Middle English *batilment*, from Old French *bataillement*, earlier *bastillement* ("fortification"), from *bastillier* ("to fortify"), from *bastille* ("fortress"). Unlike a simple, solid **parapet** or the broad, foundational **rampart** upon which it often stands, the battlement is a rhythmic architecture of stone, a calculated chessboard of cover and aperture. It is the silhouette of a castle against a twilight sky, the measured cadence of shadow and light along a wall-walk, and the cool, rough grip of stone under a sentinel’s palm as he peers through a notch at the advancing world—a permanent testament to the human need to carve spaces of safety, and of sight, from uniform peril.
Etymology
From Middle English batilment, from Old French bataillement, earlier bastillement (“fortification”), from bastillier (“to fortify, to equip with battlements”), from bastille (“fortress”) (see bastion). By surface analysis, battle + -ment.
noun
- In fortification: an indented parapet, formed by a series of rising members called cops or merlons, separated by openings called crenelles or embrasures, the soldier sheltering himself behind the merlon while he fires through the embrasure or through a loophole in the battlement.“Towers, and battlements it sees
Bosom'd high in tufted trees,
Where perhaps some beauty lies,
The cynosure of neighbouring eyes.”
- Any high wall for defense.
- The towering roof of heaven.