portculis

English

Noun

portculis (plural portculises or portculisses)

1. Rare form of portcullis.
   • 1685, William Howel, “Containing the long and active Reign of Justinian the Great. […]”, in An Institution of General History: or the History of the World. The Third Part. […], London: […] Miles Flesher, section I, “Containing his Wars especially”, subsection 97, page 81:

     Upon the Battlements of the Walls was another ſort of Engine placed for ſlinging of Stones, which they called Wild Aſſes; and at the Gates ſuch as they termed Wolves, made after a faſhion which ſomething reſembled Portculiſes.

   • 1753, “Of Henry VIIth’s Chapel”, in An Historical Description of Westminster-Abbey, Its Monuments and Curiosities, London: […] J[ohn] Newbery, […], page 13:

     The Windows, which are 13 on each Side above, and as many below, in the North and South Iſles, beſides the ſpacious Eaſt Window, jut out into the Gothic Towers, and were formerly of painted or diapered Glaſs, having in every Pain a white Roſe, the Badge of Lancaſter, or an H the initial Letter of the Founder’s Name, and Portculiſſes, the Badge of the Beaufort’s, crowned, of which there are ſome now remaining.

   • 1764, John Muller, A Treatise Containing the Practical Part of Fortification. In Four Parts., 2nd edition, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], part III, “Containing the manner of tracing a Fortress on the Ground, to make an Estimate, and to execute the Works”, section XVI, “Of Barriers, Gates, and Portculisses”, page 204:

     Theſe portculiſſes are, in my opinion, better than thoſe called organs, becauſe if an enemy ſhould come ſo near as to cut it open, it will not be ſo eaſily done, if they are well covered with iron; and the men behind them may fire through it with very little danger; whereas, the enemy muſt be very much expoſed to their fire: beſides, there might be an opening left above, to throw ſtones and blocks of wood upon thoſe that dare approach them.

   • 1968, Peter Ratazzi, In Strangest Europe: A Cabinet of Curiosities, Rarities and Monsters, London: The Mitre Press, →ISBN, page 252:

     The wall was crowned with 44 towers, some over 70 feet, with portculisses, supply rooms, fireplaces and ladders.