portcullises
Fortified sliding barriers
Portcullises is the plural of portcullis, a heavy grated gate that slides vertically in grooves to block a castle entrance.
The design allowed defenders to drop it quickly during attack, trapping enemies in a passageway.
The word now appears mostly in historical contexts or fantasy settings: The portcullises crashed down, sealing the invaders inside the gatehouse.
Fortified medieval residence
- gatehouseStructure over an entrance
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
- moatDefensive water ditch
- rampartsProtective fortress walls
battlements · barbican · stronghold · keep · curtain wall · murder holes · arrow slits · towers
Drum-and-cable lifting mechanism
- chainsLinked metal restraints
- counterweightBalancing mass in machinery
- pulleyGrooved wheel for rope
- groovesNarrow carved channels
iron · grating · lattice · bars · spikes · hoisting · lowering · ropes
castle
Fortified medieval residence
- gatehouseStructure over an entrance
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
- moatDefensive water ditch
ramparts · battlements · barbican · stronghold · keep · curtain wall · murder holes · arrow slits · towers · fortress
winch
Drum-and-cable lifting mechanism
- chainsLinked metal restraints
- counterweightBalancing mass in machinery
- pulleyGrooved wheel for rope
grooves · iron · grating · lattice · bars · spikes · hoisting · lowering · ropes · windlass
protection
Guarding against harm
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- securityProtection from threat
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
imprisonment · threshold · power · authority · heraldry · coat of arms · emblem · Tudor · royal · defense
portcullisesswinging doors
Hinged portals opening either direction
drawbridges · drawbridge · revolving doors · double doors · French doors