portcullis

[prettygoodword]

With apologies for not completing the theme week of Fancy P words, but I had to drop offline for a family emergency. Here's the much-delayed final word:


portcullis (pawrt-KUHL-is) - n., an grating made of iron and/or wood hung over the gateway of a castle, fort, etc. that is lowered through grooves to prevent passage.


Part of standard fortification in medieval Europe. Larger castles often had two, at either end of the front gate passage -- lowering both trapped attackers in a killing zone. The word dates from the early 14th century as Middle English port-colice, from Old French porte coleice, sliding gate, from porte, gate (from Latin porta) + coleice, feminine of coleis, sliding (from Vulgar Latin *cōlātīcius, from Latin cōlātus, past participle of cōlāre, to filter, strain, from cōlum, sieve).


Thanks, WikiMedia!

---L.

Comments

[minoanmiss]

I hope everything's okay!

[prettygoodword]

Not really -- a death in the family. But life moves on.

[minoanmiss]

You have all my condolences. May their memory be a blessing .

[prettygoodword]

Thanks.

[dhampyresa]

My condoleances.

[prettygoodword]

Thank you.

[lokifan]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[prettygoodword]

Thank you.