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machicolation

 - 2 dictionary results

ma⋅chic⋅o⋅la⋅tion

  [muh-chik-uh-ley-shuhn]
Use machicolation in a Sentence
–noun Architecture.
1. an opening in the floor between the corbels of a projecting gallery or parapet, as on a wall or in the vault of a passage, through which missiles, molten lead, etc., might be cast upon an enemy beneath.
2. a projecting gallery or parapet with such openings.
Origin:
1780–90; machicolate + -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To machicolation
ma·chic·o·la·tion   (mə-chĭk'ə-lā'shən)   


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n.  

    1. A projecting gallery at the top of a castle wall, supported by a row of corbeled arches and having openings in the floor through which stones and boiling liquids could be dropped on attackers.

    2. One of these openings.

  2. A row of small corbeled arches used as an ornamental architectural feature.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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