Crossword clues for machicolation
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Machicolation \Mach`i*co*la"tion\, n. [Cf. LL. machicolamentum, machacolladura, F. m[^a]chicolis, m[^a]checoulis; perh. fr. F. m[`e]che match, combustible matter + OF. coulis, couleis, flowing, fr. OF. & F. couler to flow. Cf. Match for making fire, and Cullis.]
(Mil. Arch.) An opening between the corbels which support a projecting parapet, or in the floor of a gallery or the roof of a portal, for shooting or dropping missiles upon assailants attacking the base of the walls. Also, the construction of such defenses, in general, when of this character. See Illusts. of Battlement and Castle.
The act of discharging missiles or pouring burning or melted substances upon assailants through such apertures.
Wiktionary
n. 1 An opening between corbels that support a projecting parapet; an opening in the floor of a gallery or the roof of a portal, from which missiles can be shoot or dropped upon assailants attacking the base of the walls; the construction of such defenses. 2 The act of discharge missiles or pouring burning or melted substances upon assailants through such apertures.
WordNet
n. a projecting parapet supported by corbels on a medieval castle; has openings through which stones or boiling water could be dropped on an enemy
Wikipedia
A machicolation (, ) is a floor opening between the supporting corbels of a battlement, through which stones or other material, such as boiling water or boiling cooking oil, could be dropped on attackers at the base of a defensive wall. The design was adopted in the Middle Ages in Europe when Norman crusaders returned from the Holy Land. A machicolated battlement projects outwards from the supporting wall in order to facilitate this. A hoarding is a similar structure made of wood, usually temporarily constructed in the event of a siege. Advantages of machicolations over wooden hoardings include the greater strength and fire resistance of stone. The word derives from the Old French word machecol, mentioned in Medieval Latin as machecollum, probably from Old French machier 'crush', 'wound' and col 'neck'. Machicolate is only recorded in the 18th century in English, but a verb machicollāre is attested in Anglo-Latin. The Spanish word denoting this structure, matacán, is similarly composed from "matar canes" meaning roughly "killing dogs", the latter being a reference to infidels.
Machicolations were more common in French castles than English, where they were usually restricted to the gateway, as in the 13th-century Conwy Castle.
One of the first examples of machicolation that still exists in northern France is Château de Farcheville built in 1291 outside Paris.
Usage examples of "machicolation".
Striking a stone pylon set to his right, the man stepped upon it and repeated the process, now casting to the left, left again, right, in an apparently random pattern until he had reached the castle walls and stood under the opening of a machicolation projecting from the wall some ten feet above his head.
No trace of a garden, except for a bizarrely suburban machicolation of cypress hedge.
The slot in the machicolations reached out as far as the last two steps.
Finley walked over to a set of machicolations, sighting through the holes where they would rain arrows down along the ramparts should the enemy attempt to scale them.
Burning oil was loosed through the machicolations above to splash down upon the Ogrus, but the fire shield fended the flaming liquid, splashing it aside.
A silver trumpet sang loudly, somewhere in the machicolations close above.
These holes obviously did double duty as machicolations through which defenders could surprise an enemy by pouring hot oil upon them in times of attack, and as drainage spouts in times of peace.
Leaning on the machicolations between each tooth of stone, they would watch the sun disappear into the ocean at their back door.
Get boiling liquid or heavy stones to be dropped through the machicolations if you have any.
Still, it was only a few moments before all the machicolations were open and Alengwyned and his thegns could look straight down at the combatants on the parapet, and could likewise observe the stairs inside the tower, by which their compeers were still tramping up to join them.
Euchees on the tower platform, many of them around the crenels or tending the roaring fire in the brazier, heating more oil and lighting wads of tow, and a dozen archers and crossbowmen shooting down through the machicolations at the combatants far below.
Boiling oil could be poured through machicolations in the bridge battlements.
The only egress led outside onto a parapet where machicolations fronted the west barbican, above the top of the massive main gate.
The machicolations resounded to the ringing of metal plate, the jingle of mail, the clink of harness, the hollow clopping of hooves on stone, the raised voices of restless warriors eager for combat.
Four gates broke the circle of this wall, each flanked by guard towers with slits for archers and machicolations for the abuse of besiegers, Massive wooden valves were set in the gates.