machicoulis

Meanings

• noun

  A fortification consisting of an open balcony or gallery projecting from the battlements or parapet of a wall, used for attacking the enemy or for repelling missiles.

  - "The knights stood on the machicoulis, raining arrows down upon the enemy below."
  - "The castle's machicoulis offered a vantage point for archers to defend against invading forces."

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Variants

List of all variants of machicoulis that leads to same result
machicolated , machicolation , machicolations

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Old French machicoule, machicouli, machicoulis, from machiner 'to contrive, devise' + coule 'a slope, a fall'

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. Machicoulis were not just used for offensive purposes, they could also be used to drop heavy objects such as rocks or boiling oil onto attackers.

2. Some castles had movable machicoulis, allowing defenders to shift their focus to different areas of the wall as needed.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. battlements: Structures built on the upper parts of castle walls to provide cover for defenders and to prevent attackers from scaling the walls.

2. parapet: A low wall or barrier at the edge of a platform or terrace, especially one forming the upper part of a fortification.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Machicoulis were a common feature of European castles during the Middle Ages, particularly those built during the Crusades. They allowed defenders to rain down missiles upon attackers while remaining relatively safe behind the castle walls.

How to Memorize "machicoulis"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a castle wall with a projecting balcony or gallery where defenders can stand to shoot arrows or drop heavy objects onto attackers.

2. associate
   

   - Think of the word 'machination' and remember that machicoulis are structures used for devising ways to defend against enemies.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Remember that machicoulis starts with the letter 'm', making it easy to recall as a type of medieval fortification.

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