portculles

English

Noun

portculles (plural portculleses or portcullesses)

1. Archaic form of portcullis.
   • a. 1661, Thomas Rugge, Diurnall, folio 64, recto; republished as William L. Sachse, editor, The Diurnal of Thomas Rugg, 1659–1661, London: Offices of the Royal Historical Society, […], 1961, page 44:

     Then they made an order that the gates, portculleses, posts and chaines in the Citty of London be made and sett up att the publick charge of the state.

   • 1703, “Miscellanies”, in Bibliotheca Annua: or, the Annual Catalogue for the Years, 1702, and 1703. […], number 4, […] J[ohn] Nutt […], page 69, column 2:

     136. Defenſive War by Sea. 1ſt, how to prepare a Ship for a cloſe Fight, by ordering their Bulk-heads, Leaves, Coamings, Lock-holes in Rolls, falſe Ports, Portculleſſes, &c. and taking the Running Rigging into cloſe Quarters.

   • 1823, Thomas Wilson, Picture of Philadelphia, for 1824, Containing the “Picture of Philadelphia, for 1811, by James Mease, M.D.” with All Its Improvements since That Period, Philadelphia, Pa.: […] Thomas Town, […], page 57:

     One strong entrance in character with the Architectural composition, is a conspicuous feature in the front; it is designed to have a strong stationary wrought iron grating or Portculles over the gateway, which affords light to the entrance: between it and the rear gate is sufficient room for a team and wagon to stand, that will admit of the keeper’s securing the front gate previous to the opening of the rear one.