Martello tower
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From a corruption of Corsican Torra di Mortella (literally “Tower of Mortella”), a tower in Corsica which was used as the basis for the design; possibly influenced by Italian martello (“hammer”).
Noun
[edit]Martello tower (plural Martello towers)
- A short sturdy round masonry fort, especially one constructed at various coastal points in the British Empire during the Napoleonic Wars.
- 1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York, published 2007, page 309:
- The martello towers was put up for the Guernsey people to get in out of the way of the Grand Saracen.