machicolation

noun

ma·chic·o·la·tion mə-ˌchi-kə-ˈlā-shən

: an opening between the corbels of a projecting parapet or in the floor of a gallery or roof of a portal for discharging missiles upon assailants below see battlement illustration

: a gallery or parapet containing such openings

: construction imitating medieval machicolation

machicolated

mə-ˈchi-kə-ˌlā-təd

adjective

Examples of machicolation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Your feudal lord did not have a range of mottes, baileys, bartizans, drawbridges, dungeons, machicolations and turrets to choose from. —

A-LIST, 2 Oct. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'machicolation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin machicolare to furnish with machicolations, from Middle French machicoller, from machicoleis machicolation, from macher to crush + col neck, from Latin collum — more at collar

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of machicolation was in 1773

See more words from the same year