barbette

¹

[bahr-bet]

noun

1. (within a fortification) a platform or mound of earth from which guns may be fired over the parapet instead of through embrasures.

2. Navy.,  an armored cylinder for protecting the lower part of a turret on a warship.

Barbette

²

[bahr-bet]

noun

1. a first name, form of Barbara.

barbette

/ bɑːˈbɛt /

noun

1. (formerly) an earthen platform inside a parapet, from which heavy guns could fire over the top

2. an armoured cylinder below a turret on a warship that protects the revolving structure and foundation of the turret

Word History and Origins

Origin of barbette¹

1765–75; < French, equivalent to barbe beard + -ette -ette, probably from the general metaphorical use of barbe for something which protrudes or faces outward

Word History and Origins

Origin of barbette¹

C18: from French, diminutive of barbe a nun's _barb ¹ , from a fancied similarity between the earthwork around a cannon and this part of a nun's habit

Example Sentences

Eerie images of the Kaga captured by an undersea drone show a starboard side gun, a 20 cm gun, a gun mount and a barbette, or gun emplacement.

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En barbette, In barbette, said of guns when they are elevated so as to fire over the top of a parapet, and not through embrasures.

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It was a parallelogram, and mounted barbette guns only.

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The cannon were well mounted, and placed in barbette and embrasure.

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Almost simultaneously the six secondary armament guns added their quota of death and destruction to the slower crash of the heavier weapons in the barbettes.

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