crenellations
Fortified wall gaps
Crenellations are the notched parapets atop castle walls and fortifications—the alternating high and low sections that allowed defenders to shoot through gaps while remaining protected behind the raised portions.
The pattern is iconic of medieval military architecture: The castle's crenellations stood silhouetted against the sky.
Modern buildings sometimes feature decorative crenellations to evoke a fortress-like appearance.
Notched defensive wall top
- embrasuresFortress wall apertures
- parapetLow wall at edge
- arrow slitsNarrow openings for archers
- loopholesExploitable ambiguities in rules
curtain wall · rampart · turret · tower · keep · gatehouse · barbican · bastion
Fortified medieval residence
- fortressHeavily defended military structure
- citadelFortified urban stronghold
- strongholdFortified place of defense
- knightHonored mounted soldier
siege · feudal · heraldry · chivalry · crusade · rampart · moat · drawbridge
For beauty, not function
- architectural detailDecorative building feature
- rooflineUpper building contour
- Gothic RevivalArchitectural return to medieval forms
- VictorianOf a prim era
church · cathedral · collegiate · municipal building · façade · crown molding · castellated · aesthetic
Strengthening defenses or nutrients
- protectionGuarding against harm
- coverProtect by overlaying
- archerOne who shoots arrows
- crossbowmanSoldier wielding string-drawn weapon
defender · garrison · vantage point · strategic · tactical · shielding · surveillance · barricade
battlements
Notched defensive wall top
- embrasuresFortress wall apertures
- parapetLow wall at edge
- arrow slitsNarrow openings for archers
loopholes · curtain wall · rampart · turret · tower · keep · gatehouse · barbican · bastion · walkway
castle
Fortified medieval residence
- fortressHeavily defended military structure
- citadelFortified urban stronghold
- strongholdFortified place of defense
knight · siege · feudal · heraldry · chivalry · crusade · rampart · moat · drawbridge · portcullis
ornamental
For beauty, not function
- architectural detailDecorative building feature
- rooflineUpper building contour
- Gothic RevivalArchitectural return to medieval forms
Victorian · church · cathedral · collegiate · municipal building · façade · crown molding · castellated · aesthetic · ornament
fortification
Strengthening defenses or nutrients
- protectionGuarding against harm
- coverProtect by overlaying
- archerOne who shoots arrows
crossbowman · defender · garrison · vantage point · strategic · tactical · shielding · surveillance · barricade · entrenchment
- castleskeep, moat, drawbridge, dungeon, turret
- castle partsmoat, keep, drawbridge, battlement, tower
- fortificationsfort, fortress, fortresses, citadel, citadels
- pointspoint, points, peak, peaks, tip
- castle defensemoat, drawbridge, portcullis, arrow slits, battlements
- castle restorationbattlements, arrow slits, portcullis, gatehouse, great hall