barbican

[ bahr-bi-kuhn ]

noun

1. an outwork of a fortified place, as a castle.
2. a defensive outpost of any sort.

barbican

¹

/ ˈbɑːbɪkən /

noun

1. a walled outwork or tower to protect a gate or drawbridge of a fortification
2. a watchtower projecting from a fortification

Barbican

²

/ ˈbɑːbɪkən /

noun

1. the Barbican
   a building complex in the City of London: includes residential developments and the Barbican Arts Centre (completed 1982) housing concert and exhibition halls, theatres, cinemas, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of barbican¹

1250–1300; Middle English barbecan, barbican < Old French barbacane or Medieval Latin barbacana, perhaps ≪ Persian bālāḥāna terrace over a roof, upper floor, altered by association with Latin barba beard, a beard marking the front or face of a thing

Word History and Origins

Origin of barbican¹

C13: from Old French barbacane , from Medieval Latin barbacana , of unknown origin

Example Sentences

We started making them for a retrospective nine years ago that we were invited to in London at the Barbican art gallery.

From The Daily Beast

On entering the small outer barbican, which is reached by a lane from the market-place, we come to the base of the Norman keep.

From Project Gutenberg

He heard the voices of the sentries in the barbican as they conversed with the newcomers.

From Project Gutenberg

The principal barbican, or watch tower, is not at the entrance, but towards the north-east corner.

From Project Gutenberg

Ten flanking towers protected its gateways, which, in their turn, were preceded each by a barbican.

From Project Gutenberg

The barbican, or outwork of the fortification, was situated beyond the outer ditch, if it ever existed.

From Project Gutenberg