crenel
Defensive parapet opening
A crenel is one of the open spaces in a battlement—the gaps between the raised sections (called merlons) along the top of a castle wall.
These alternating slots allowed defenders to shoot arrows while the merlons provided cover.
The pattern of crenels and merlons gives medieval fortifications their distinctive notched silhouette.
Also spelled crenelle.
battlement
Toothed fortress wall crown
rampart · loophole · castle · turret · watchtower · curtain wall · defensive · notch · gap · archer
- castleskeep, moat, drawbridge, dungeon, turret
- castle partsmoat, keep, drawbridge, battlement, tower
- fortificationsfort, fortress, fortresses, citadel, citadels
- defensive wallsrampart, parapet, battlement, bulwark, bastion
- battlementsbattlement, merlon, crenels, embrasures, embrasure
- Fortsfortress, citadel, stronghold, Fort Knox, Fort Bragg
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