portcullis
noun
- heavy vertically-opening gate typically found in medieval fortifications
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /pɔːtˈkʌl.ɪs/ / /pɔɹtˈkʌl.ɪs/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English portcolyse, from Old French porte colëice, from porte (“door”) + feminine of colëiz (“sliding”), ultimately from Latin colāre.
- A gate in the form of a grating which is lowered into place at the gateway of a castle, a fort, etc.
- 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.
verb
Etymology: From Middle English portcolyse, from Old French porte colëice, from porte (“door”) + feminine of colëiz (“sliding”), ultimately from Latin colāre.
- To obstruct with, or as with, a portcullis; to shut; to bar.
“[…]Within my mouth you haue engaold my tongue, / Doubly portculliſt with my teeth and lippes[…]”