murder hole
Defensive ceiling opening
A murder hole is an opening in a castle floor or ceiling—typically above a gateway or passage—through which defenders could drop stones, pour boiling liquids, or shoot arrows at attackers below.
The term now applies to any similar defensive aperture.
In military and gaming contexts, it describes any position offering protected attack on a confined area: The sniper set up at the murder hole overlooking the corridor.
Stationed military force
- strongholdFortified place of defense
- fortifyMake stronger against threat
- barricadeObstacle blocking a path
- rampartFortified defensive wall
bulwark · entrenchment · guardhouse · sentry · watchtower · emplacement · palisade · stockade
Fortified medieval residence
- keepRetain or fortified tower
- donjonCastle's fortified central tower
- baileyCastle's enclosed courtyard
- moatDefensive water ditch
feudalism · knights · crusades · chainmail · longbow · crossbow · siege warfare · fortification
Fortified wall opening
- loopholeExploitable gap in rules
- arrow slitNarrow defensive shooting gap
- crenelationNotched defensive parapet
- battlementToothed fortress wall crown
parapet · portcullis · barbican · gatehouse · drawbridge · bastion · turret · curtain wall
Surround to force surrender
- assaultViolent offensive act
- breachBreaking of agreement
- battering ramHeavy beam for breaching
- siege towerMobile assault platform
escalade · sapper · mining · blockade · attackers · invaders · storming · penetration
Gap or start
- gapUnfilled space between
- chuteInclined passage for descent
- shaftNarrow vertical passage
- passagewayEnclosed route between spaces
garrison
Stationed military force
- strongholdFortified place of defense
- fortifyMake stronger against threat
- barricadeObstacle blocking a path
rampart · bulwark · entrenchment · guardhouse · sentry · watchtower · emplacement · palisade · stockade · redoubt
castle
Fortified medieval residence
- keepRetain or fortified tower
- donjonCastle's fortified central tower
- baileyCastle's enclosed courtyard
moat · feudalism · knights · crusades · chainmail · longbow · crossbow · siege warfare · fortification · dungeon
embrasure
Fortified wall opening
- loopholeExploitable gap in rules
- arrow slitNarrow defensive shooting gap
- crenelationNotched defensive parapet
battlement · parapet · portcullis · barbican · gatehouse · drawbridge · bastion · turret · curtain wall · sally port
besiege
Surround to force surrender
- assaultViolent offensive act
- breachBreaking of agreement
- battering ramHeavy beam for breaching
siege tower · escalade · sapper · mining · blockade · attackers · invaders · storming · penetration · counterattack
opening
Gap or start
- castleskeep, moat, drawbridge, dungeon, turret
- medieval warfareknights, siege warfare, castle, castle siege, siege
- castle partsmoat, keep, drawbridge, battlement, tower
- fortificationsfort, fortress, fortresses, citadel, citadels
- castle defensesportcullis, drawbridge, barbican, sally port, guard tower
- defenseswall, walls, fence, gate, barrier
murder holewelcome mat
Rug at the entrance
grand entrance · red carpet · triumphal arch · reception hall · vestibule
murder holearrow slit
Narrow defensive shooting gap
embrasure · crenellation · battlement · loophole · parapet