battlement
Fortified wall top
A battlement is the notched parapet atop a castle wall or tower, with alternating raised sections (merlons) and gaps (crenels) through which defenders could shelter and shoot.
The distinctive zigzag silhouette appears in medieval fortifications, chess rook pieces, and buildings evoking Gothic or military grandeur.
Usually plural: The castle's battlements overlooked the valley.
Notched defensive parapet
- merlonSolid parapet section
- embrasureFortified wall opening
- parapetLow wall at edge
- rampartFortified defensive wall
loophole · hoarding · murder-hole · crenel · allure · corbel · finial · castellated
Retain or fortified tower
- towerTall slender edifice
- gatehouseStructure over an entrance
- barbicanOuter defensive tower
- moatDefensive water ditch
drawbridge · portcullis · bailey · palisade · citadel · stronghold · redoubt · stockade
Encirclement forcing surrender
- shieldingProtecting from harm
- protectionGuarding against harm
- guardWatchful defensive attention
- sentryGuard on duty
archer · defender · resistance · safeguard · vantage · overlook · cover · repel
crenelation
Notched defensive parapet
rampart · loophole · hoarding · murder-hole · crenel · allure · corbel · finial · castellated · crenellated
keep
Retain or fortified tower
moat · drawbridge · portcullis · bailey · palisade · citadel · stronghold · redoubt · stockade · bulwark
siege
Encirclement forcing surrender
- shieldingProtecting from harm
- protectionGuarding against harm
- guardWatchful defensive attention
sentry · archer · defender · resistance · safeguard · vantage · overlook · cover · repel · withstand
castle
Fortified medieval residence
herald · chatelaine · seneschal · garrison · watchman · man-at-arms · squire · page · castellan · warden
siege
Encirclement forcing surrender
- assaultViolent offensive act
- catapultSiege engine for launching
- trebuchetCounterweight-powered projectile launcher
ballista · mangonel · crossbow · archer · barrage · onslaught · projectile · bombardment · besieged · storming
- Gothic ornamentsgargoyle, tracery, finial, crocket, quatrefoil
- castleskeep, moat, drawbridge, dungeon, turret
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- medievalknights, castles, cathedral, kings, queens
- medieval warfareknights, siege warfare, castle, castle siege, siege
- building partsfacades, wall, door, windows, floor