crenellation
Fortified wall teeth
Crenellation is the pattern of alternating raised sections and gaps along the top of a castle wall or fortress—the classic "tooth-like" profile of medieval battlements.
The gaps allowed defenders to shoot while the raised portions provided cover.
The term extends to any similar decorative pattern on buildings: The Gothic Revival mansion featured ornamental crenellation along the roofline.
Solid parapet section
- embrasureFortified wall opening
- parapetLow wall at edge
- battlementToothed fortress wall crown
- arrow slitNarrow defensive shooting gap
loophole · turret · rampart · curtain wall · barbican · gatehouse · keep · tower
Protective or easily threatened
- strongholdFortified place of defense
- citadelFortified urban stronghold
- garrisonStationed military force
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
rampart · palisade · redoubt · bulwark · entrenchment · stockade · fortify · bunker
Fortified medieval residence
- moatDefensive water ditch
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
- feudalismLand-for-service social structure
- knightHonored mounted soldier
chivalry · heraldry · jousting · crusades · siege warfare · longbow · crossbow · manor
Serving to beautify
- motifRecurring thematic element
- repetitionAct of redoing
- geometricRelating to mathematical shapes
- zigzagAngled back-and-forth path
notched · sawtooth · indentation · ornamental · fretwork · molding · cornice · architectural detail
merlon
Solid parapet section
- embrasureFortified wall opening
- parapetLow wall at edge
- battlementToothed fortress wall crown
arrow slit · loophole · turret · rampart · curtain wall · barbican · gatehouse · keep · tower · bastion
defensive
Protective or easily threatened
- strongholdFortified place of defense
- citadelFortified urban stronghold
- garrisonStationed military force
siege · rampart · palisade · redoubt · bulwark · entrenchment · stockade · fortify · bunker · outpost
castle
Fortified medieval residence
- moatDefensive water ditch
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
- feudalismLand-for-service social structure
knight · chivalry · heraldry · jousting · crusades · siege warfare · longbow · crossbow · manor · fiefdom
decorative
Serving to beautify
- motifRecurring thematic element
- repetitionAct of redoing
- geometricRelating to mathematical shapes
zigzag · notched · sawtooth · indentation · ornamental · fretwork · molding · cornice · architectural detail · textile
- castleskeep, moat, drawbridge, dungeon, turret
- medievalknights, castles, cathedral, kings, queens
- castle partsmoat, keep, drawbridge, battlement, tower
- fortificationsfort, fortress, fortresses, citadel, citadels
- pointspoint, points, peak, peaks, tip
- Castle Architecturekeep, turret, battlement, drawbridge, moat