What does portcullis mean?
A portcullis is a strong sliding barrier, usually made of wooden or metal bars, that protects the entrance to a castle or fortified building. It could be raised to admit people, horses, or supplies and lowered rapidly to deny access or protect those inside from attackers. Its name comes through Old French from a phrase referring to a sliding gate. Although the word is now chiefly historical and literary, it remains useful for describing the distinctive defensive architecture of medieval strongholds and for evoking a dramatic, instantly enforced barrier. When lowered, a portcullis turns an open entrance into a secure enclosure; this abrupt function has also inspired occasional figurative uses referring to sudden obstruction or exclusion.
nounA heavy sliding gate of wood or metal, fitted with vertical bars and lowered to secure the entrance to a castle or fortified building. By extension, it may refer to a gate resembling this defensive structure.
- A heavy sliding gate with vertical bars, used to defend the entrance to a castle or other fortified building.
- A gate or barrier resembling a defensive portcullis.
"The guards lowered the portcullis as the last horse entered the castle."
"A portcullis of iron bars blocked the drawbridge entrance."
"The modern courtyard incorporates a stone wall designed to resemble a lowered portcullis."
The standard plural adds -es.
"Two portcullises guarded the main entrance."
Castle defenders could drop a portcullis in an instant, turning an open entrance into a barred prison.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does portcullis come from?
The word entered Middle English from Old French porte couleisse, literally “sliding gate.” Its first element refers to a gate or doorway, while couleisse denotes a sliding mechanism or groove along which the gate moves. The form developed into portcullis as it was borrowed and used in English. The word ultimately reflects the Germanic practice of protecting fortified entrances with vertically barred gates that could be dropped from above.
How portcullis is actually used
The word is chiefly associated with castles and medieval fortifications. In modern figurative use, it can evoke a sudden, decisive barrier, but such use is less common than the historical sense.
Easily confused with portcullis
A portcullis is the sliding barrier itself, while a portcullis gate is an entrance or opening equipped with such a barrier.