drawbridge

[draw-brij]

noun

1. a bridge of which the whole or a section may be drawn up, let down, or drawn aside, to prevent access or to leave a passage open for boats, barges, etc.

drawbridge

/ ˈdrɔːˌbrɪdʒ /

noun

1. a bridge that may be raised to prevent access or to enable vessels to pass

Word History and Origins

Origin of drawbridge¹

First recorded in 1300–50, drawbridge is from the Middle English word drawebrigge. See draw, bridge ¹

Example Sentences

Stena Line's investment will pay for a new linkspan, a type of drawbridge which allows vessels to move on and off a ferry.

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"I keep thinking, we haven't got enough money to do everything for everybody," Mrs O'Neil said and "maybe we need to pull up the drawbridge, even if just for a little bit".

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Both clubs criticised each other over security arrangements and safety of the small number of travelling fans and inevitably drawbridges were pulled up completely.

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It was originally designed to be a sort of drawbridge, which require ropes or chains to pull up the road.

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Shadow housing secretary Kevin Hollinrake accused the government of "pulling up the drawbridge on home ownership and limiting aspiration and social mobility".

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