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Barbican - 4 dictionary results

bar⋅bi⋅can

[bahr-bi-kuhn]
–noun
1. an outwork of a fortified place, as a castle.
2. a defensive outpost of any sort.
Also, barbacan.


Origin:
1250–1300; ME barbecan, barbican < OF barbacane or ML barbacana, perh. ≪ Pers bālāḥāna terrace over a roof, upper floor, altered by assoc. with L barba beard, a beard marking the front or face of a thing
bar·bi·can   (bär'bĭ-kən)   
n.  A tower or other fortification on the approach to a castle or town, especially one at a gate or drawbridge.

[Middle English, from Old French barbacane, from Medieval Latin barbacana, from Persian barbārkhān : barbār, guard (from Old Iranian *parivāraka-, protective; see wer-4 in Indo-European roots) + khān, house (from Middle Persian).]

Barbican

Bar"bi*can\, Barbacan \Bar"ba*can\, n. [OE. barbican, barbecan, F. barbacane, LL. barbacana, barbicana, of uncertain origin: cf. Ar. barbakh aqueduct, sewer. F. barbacane also means, an opening to let out water, loophole.]

1. (Fort.) A tower or advanced work defending the entrance to a castle or city, as at a gate or bridge. It was often large and strong, having a ditch and drawbridge of its own.

2. An opening in the wall of a fortress, through which missiles were discharged upon an enemy.

barbican 
"outer fortification of a city or castle," 1300, from O.Fr. barbacane (12c.), a general Romanic word, perhaps from Arabic or Pers. (cf. bab-khanah "gate-house").
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