ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Portcullis

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /pɔːtˈkʌl.ɪs/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Portcullis is a noun meaning A gate in the form of a grating which is lowered into place at the gateway of a castle, a fort, etc.

Meaning

A gate in the form of a grating which is lowered into place at the gateway of a castle, a fort, etc.

More Meanings

  1. (usually in the passive voice) To obstruct with, or as with, a portcullis; to shut; to bar.
  2. (historical) An old English coin from the reign of Elizabeth I, minted for the use of the East India Company, and bearing the picture of a portcullis on the reverse.

Example Sentences

[…]Within my mouth you haue engaold my tongue, / Doubly portculliſt with my teeth and lippes[…]

Word Forms

Synonyms for portcullis

Depending on context, synonyms include cataract.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include porticus, cryptoporticus, port, gatehouse, porte-cochere, porch.

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Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.