machicolation

[ muh-chik-uh-ley-shuh n ]
/ məˌtʃɪk əˈleɪ ʃən /

noun Architecture.

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.
a projecting gallery or parapet with such openings.

Origin of machicolation

First recorded in 1780–90; machicolate + -ion

Words nearby machicolation

machi chips, machiavelli, machiavelli, niccolò, machiavellian, machicolate, machicolation, machida, machilid, machilipatnam, machinable, machinate

Example sentences from the Web for machicolation

  • It was therefore superseded ere long by the use of machicolation, where a projecting stone gallery replaced the woodwork.

    The Art of War in the Middle Ages A.D. 378-1515 |C. W. C. Oman

  • Gables were furnished with crow-steps, while machicolation became at times almost fantastic.

    British Castles |Charles H. Ashdown

British Dictionary definitions for machicolation

machicolation
/ (məˌtʃɪkəʊˈleɪʃən) /

noun

(esp in medieval castles) a projecting gallery or parapet supported on corbels having openings through which missiles could be dropped
any such opening