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portcullis
[ pawrt-kuhl-is, pohrt- ]
noun
- (especially in medieval castles) a strong grating, as of iron, made to slide along vertical grooves at the sides of a gateway of a fortified place and let down to prevent passage.
portcullis
/ pɔːtˈkʌlɪs /
noun
- an iron or wooden grating suspended vertically in grooves in the gateway of a castle or fortified town and able to be lowered so as to bar the entrance
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Word History and Origins
Origin of portcullis1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of portcullis1
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Example Sentences
The drawbridge is raised and the portcullis closed, so that a thieving Redskin would find it a hard matter to make his way in.
They suddenly let down the portcullis, which they had raised somewhat by pulleys, and thus closed up the gateway.
The passage is vaulted, and has massive doors of oak studded with iron; formerly there was also a portcullis.
The portcullis was suddenly dropped; Copeland, mistaken for his master, remained a prisoner.
The hair rose on Claude's head, but he set his teeth; though the man died, though he died, the portcullis must fall!
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