Portcullis

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Portcullis \Port*cul"lis\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Portcullised};
     p. pr. & vb. n. {Portcullising}.]
     To obstruct with, or as with, a portcullis; to shut; to bar.
     [R.] --Shak.
     [1913 Webster]



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Portcullis \Port*cul"lis\, n. [OF. porte coulisse, cole["i]ce, a
     sliding door, fr. L. colare, colatum, to filter, to strain:
     cf. F. couler to glide. See {Port} a gate, and cf. {Cullis},
     {Colander}.]
     1. (Fort.) A grating of iron or of timbers pointed with iron,
        hung over the gateway of a fortress, to be let down to
        prevent the entrance of an enemy. "Let the portcullis
        fall." --Sir W. Scott.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              She . . . the huge portcullis high updrew. --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. An English coin of the reign of Elizabeth, struck for the
        use of the East India Company; -- so called from its
        bearing the figure of a portcullis on the reverse.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  portcullis
       n : gate consisting of an iron or wooden grating that hangs in
           the entry to a castle or fortified town; can be lowered
           to prevent passage