[
UK
/pˈɔːtkəlˌiz/
]
NOUN
- gate consisting of an iron or wooden grating that hangs in the entry to a castle or fortified town; can be lowered to prevent passage
How To Use portcullis In A Sentence
- He then took up the reins of the mule that lugged his few belongings and led the animal towards the portcullis. THE ANCIENT FUTURE: THE DARK AGE
- Sitting in the shade of the fig trees in Westminster's bustling Portcullis House last week, Ian Cawsey recalled with grim humour the moment when he almost died.
- Known as a barbican, this part of the castle would have a drawbridge, a portcullis, arrow slits, machicolations (murder holes) - any devise that was thought to be useful at stopping the enemy.
- Sticking his head down through the entrance, he saw the portcullis was up and he wondered how to lower it.
- He paused before passing through the first gate and into the short passageway between the entrance to the fortress and the inner portcullis.
- They rode into the outer courtyard, through the muckle faulding yetts, and aneath the auld portcullis; and the whole front of the house was lighted, and there were pipes and fiddles, and as much dancing and deray within as used to be in Sir Roberts house at Pace and Yule, and such high seasons. Wandering Willie’s Tale
- Unbroken, that is, except by the gate itself, with the heavy iron bars of the portcullis still lowered at this early hour.
- He paused before passing through the first gate and into the short passageway between the entrance to the fortress and the inner portcullis.
- Erastus answered and the gate was lowered, the portcullis drawn up.
- Visitors to the Richard III Museum are still able to operate the portcullis's mechanism, and it could be lowered if necessary.
