noun
- a heavy iron or wooden grating that slides vertically in grooves to block a gateway in a castle or fortress
Usage: historical; architecture
Examples
- The medieval castle’s portcullis crashed down, trapping the invaders in the courtyard.
- Guards quickly lowered the portcullis when they spotted enemy soldiers approaching.
- The rusty portcullis hadn’t been raised in decades.
- Tourists can still see the grooves where the portcullis once slid up and down.
- The portcullis served as the castle’s first line of defense against attackers.
- Heavy chains were used to raise and lower the massive portcullis.