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

They’re like extremely intricate drawbridges that strictly monitor the ins and outs of molecular messengers.

From Singularity Hub 

Runners have Wilmington’s Gary Shell Cross-City Trail, 15 miles of traffic-free paths connecting city parks with the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus before ending at the drawbridge that leads to Wrightsville Beach.

From Outside Online

By including the word “Zion,” we had pulled up the drawbridge.

From The Daily Beast

“It was sort of like one of those scenes where the drawbridge comes up and the dungeon door closes,” Relin recalled.

From The Daily Beast

It was encircled by a ditch, but the drawbridge was down, and the rust on its chains argued that long had it been so.

From Project Gutenberg

The besiegers forced the advance barricade, burned the drawbridge, and fired the gate.

From Project Gutenberg

Crossing the drawbridge at a fast gallop, he saw a number of guards looking at him wonderingly.

From Project Gutenberg

In silence, with the Seneschal at her elbow, she watched the procession advance until it was at the foot of the drawbridge.

From Project Gutenberg

No trains were running, but the drawbridge that separated the marsh from San Pablo Bay opened as usual.

From Project Gutenberg