Meaning of portscullis | Babel Free

Definitions

Noun. [C1]

Examples

“A cannon fired at sunset is the signal for hauling up the various portscullis, and shutting off communication with the rest⟳ of the world.”

“There are no trap⟳ machicoulis in the floors, so far as these are preserved, and there were no portscullis.”

“There is surely a closer and more obvious connection between Battens and triangular candlesticks than between Battens and portscullis. (This plural is my own⟳ and will not be found in Larousse). If the term “portcullis” had to be brought into the French theatre, it would—I should have⟳ thought—have⟳ been more likely to be applied to flown scenery, tabs, sky borders and suchlike. Surely a cut⟳ cloth would give⟳ a much better representation of a portcullis than would a row of smelly little lamps? And he admits the use⟳ of “coulisse” in connection with sliding scenery.”

CEFR level