PORTCULLIS Definition & Meaning

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portcullis

[ pawrt-kuhl-is, pohrt- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

(especially in medieval castles) a strong grating, as of iron, made to slide along vertical grooves at the sides of a gateway of a fortified place and let down to prevent passage.

portcullis

/ ��ɔː��ˈ��ʌ��ɪ�� /

noun

an iron or wooden grating suspended vertically in grooves in the gateway of a castle or fortified town and able to be lowered so as to bar the entrance

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of portcullis¹

1300–50; Middle English portecolys < Middle French porte coleice, equivalent to porte port ⁴ + coleice, feminine of coleis flowing, sliding < Vulgar Latin *��ō��ī��ܲ�; coulee, -itious

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of portcullis¹

C14 port colice, from Old French porte coleïce sliding gate, from porte door, entrance + ��Ǳ��ï��, from couler to slide, flow, from Late Latin ��ō�� to filter

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

More than six months later, White has complained that Clarke-Smith's former constituency office is still displaying his title as MP, as well as the official portcullis logo of the House of Commons.

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Raise-and-lower drawbridge and portcullis, now with hidden chains and counterweights built right into the set, instead of the exposed strings I had as a kid.

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Early on in Covid, the decision was taken to pull up the drawbridge and shutter the portcullis.

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It features a moat, waterfall, drawbridge, portcullis, 26 rooms, elevator, 5 fireplaces, 6 new furnaces, secret rooms, hidden doors, hidden passageways, hidden staircase, wine cellar, Tudor style pub, and a few more surprises.”

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The oil is boiling in the cauldrons and the portcullis has been installed at a ground he aims to turn into “a fortress”.

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