crenelate
Fortify with gaps
To crenelate is to furnish with crenels—the notched openings in a battlement that allow defenders to shoot while remaining protected.
A crenelated wall has that distinctive castle-top silhouette of alternating raised sections and gaps: The medieval fortress featured crenelated towers.
The word appears almost exclusively in historical or architectural contexts.
Solid parapet section
- parapetLow wall at edge
- embrasureFortified wall opening
- rampartFortified defensive wall
- arrow slitNarrow defensive shooting gap
loophole · curtain wall · barbican · bastion · turret · gatehouse · portcullis · drawbridge
Inward cut or setback
- sawtoothTriangular repeating edge pattern
- scallopFan-shaped edible shellfish
- zigzagAngled back-and-forth path
- serrationToothed edge pattern
tooth · gap · opening · alternating · pattern · regular · spacing · projection
Decorative architectural edging
- corniceOrnamental upper trim
- rooflineUpper building contour
- trimRemove unwanted edges
- edgingDecorative border material
border · ornamental · architectural detail · facade · medieval revival · castellated · crown
merlon
Solid parapet section
arrow slit · loophole · curtain wall · barbican · bastion · turret · gatehouse · portcullis · drawbridge · moat
indentation
Inward cut or setback
- sawtoothTriangular repeating edge pattern
- scallopFan-shaped edible shellfish
- zigzagAngled back-and-forth path
serration · tooth · gap · opening · alternating · pattern · regular · spacing · projection · recess
molding
Decorative architectural edging
edging · border · ornamental · architectural detail · facade · medieval revival · castellated · crown
crenelatesmooth
Without roughness or difficulty
flatten · level · even out · round off · streamline
crenelatedismantle
Separate into parts
unfortify · demilitarize · raze · demolish · domesticate
crenelatesmooth
Without roughness or difficulty
level · flat-topped · unnotched · plain · unindented