portscullis

English

Noun

portscullis

1. (rare) plural of portcullis
   • 1867 October 19, B., “Editorial Correspondence. Mediterranean Round—No. 29.”, in The Sun, New York, N.Y., published 20 November 1867, page [2], column 3:

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

   • 1911 July 25, T. E. Lawrence, “Diary of a Journey across the Euphrates”, in A. W. Lawrence, editor, Oriental Assembly, London: Williams and Norgate Ltd., […], published 1939, page 36:

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

   • 1947 April, H.M.C., “Correspondence—More about Battens”, in Tabs, volume 5, number 1, […] The Strand Electric and Engineering Co. Ltd. […], page 30:

     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.