portcullis · noun — A gate in the form of a grating which is lowered into place at the gateway of a castle, a fort, etc.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
portcullis is pronounced /pɔːtˈkʌl.ɪs/.
Why “portcullis” is a great word
A heavy, vertically-closing defensive gate, typically of iron or wood grating, lowered between grooves to block the gateway of a castle or fortification. From Middle English portcolyse, from Old French porte coleice, literally 'sliding gate,' from porte ('door, gate,' from Latin porta) + coleice, feminine of coleiz ('sliding,' ultimately from Latin colāre, 'to filter, strain'). Unlike a gate—any barrier closing an opening—or a drawbridge—a horizontal span—the portcullis is a vertical, piercing weight. It is the iron-toothed jaw of the fortress, the sudden shadow falling across the threshold, the final, shrieking verdict of chains before the world goes dark—a monument not to ingress, but to its permanent refusal.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
From Middle English portcolyse, from Old French porte colëice, from porte (“door”) + feminine of colëiz (“sliding”), ultimately from Latin colāre.
noun
- A gate in the form of a grating which is lowered into place at the gateway of a castle, a fort, etc.
- An old English coin from the reign of Elizabeth I, minted for the use of the East India Company, and bearing the picture of a portcullis on the reverse.
verb
- To obstruct with, or as with, a portcullis; to shut; to bar.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- postern 56% match — A back door or gate, side entrance, or other entrance distinct from the main one, especially one that is private or not obvious. vs portcullis →
- gateway 55% match — A passage that can be closed by use of a gate. vs portcullis →
- barbican 54% match — A tower at the entrance to a castle or fortified town. vs portcullis →
- cryptoporticus 54% match — A vaulted arcade or corridor at, or just below, ground level, normally lit by openings in the upper part of the vault; also, a roofed promenade that is enclosed with side walls that have openings or windows instead of columns. vs portcullis →
- blockhouse 53% match — A sturdy military fortification, often of concrete, with gunports. vs portcullis →
- portico 53% match — A porch, or a small space with a roof supported by columns, serving as the entrance to a building. vs portcullis →
- guardhouse 53% match — A station for guards, especially at the entrance of a town, castle, etc. vs portcullis →
- rowport 52% match — An opening in the side of small warships, such as sloops-of-war, placed near the surface of the water, to facilitate rowing in calm weather. vs portcullis →