portcullis

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a heavy gate made of a wood or metal grating that slides vertically to block a fortified entrance

   The defenders lowered the portcullis before the attackers reached the castle gate.

From Middle English portcolis, borrowed from Old French porte coleice, literally a 'sliding gate,' from porte ('door, gate') + coleice ('sliding'). The spelling changed as the compound became established in English.

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