portculli

English

Noun

portculli

1. (rare) plural of portcullis
   • 1877, James Bonwick, “What is the Great Pyramid?”, in Pyramid Facts and Fancies, London: C. Kegan Paul & Co., […], section “The King’s Chamber”, pages 35–36:

     The portcullis, which was intended for closing purposes, is described as a flat stone “found sticking up,” which “had never been let down.” […] The Ante-chamber, or Anti-closet of Mr. Greaves, is fitted on each side with four groves for the reception of portculli or flat stones, to be let down to block up the way to the King’s Room from the Gallery. […] A boss has been noticed upon this leaf or portcullis. Each groove has a semi-circular top. A French authority makes the whole side to be 9 feet 10 inches long; the width of the groove filled by the portcullis is about 20 inches. Three portculli were thus provided for.

   • 1898 September–October, “Ceuta”, in Journal of the United States Artillery, volume X, number 2 (whole 34), Fort Monreo, Va.: Artillery School Press, pages 139 and 142:

     The portcullis is also guarded. […] The drawbridges of San Luis and San Felipe, and the postern below the fasse of La Reina at the entrance of the Plaza de Armas give passage to the exterior covert-way in which are entrances guarded by simple portculli; there is another opening upon the northern coast in the ditch of Santiago, defended by a drum opening into that of San Antonio. The galleries open into camp, facing the line of fortifications, and are guarded by iron portculli.

   • 2001, Paul B. Newman, “Building and Housing”, in Daily Life in the Middle Ages, Jefferson, N.C., London: McFarland & Company, Inc., page 74, column 2:

     • Gates, drawbridges, and portculli. The portcullis was a thick and heavy but movable grating that was lowered to block an entrance. They were used in combination with gates and drawbridges to hinder direct assaults against the castle’s main entrances; • All the winches and other machinery required to raise and lower or open and close the gates, drawbridges, and portculli.