Word of the Day: Crenellations


Crenellations:  kre-na-la-shan

Part of speech:  noun

Origin:  Latin, mid-19th century

1.  Architectural features at the top of a wall of a castle.

2.  a specific type of castle defense through which arrows may be shot.

Examples used in a sentence:

1.  Even though the forces were waning, the crenellations at the top of the castle’s towers helped them defend their land.

2.  The crenellations were crumbling; showing the years of neglect after the castle was abandoned.

About Crenellations
The architectural features and fortifications that make a castle battle-ready are called many different names, including battlement, rampart, and parapet.  A crenellation is a specific type of battlement, which looks like notched teeth.  The high section of these notches is called merlons.

Did You Know?
Crenellations are a sign that a castle is prepared for battle.  In medieval England, the king had to grant a license to crenellate before the fortification could be constructed.

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