noun, plural bal·is·tra·ri·ae [bal-uh-strair-ee-ee].

What is a Balistraria?

: a narrow often cruciform opening in a wall (such as a tower or fortress) for discharging arrows (as from a crossbow)

What is the top of the castle wall called?

In architecture, a battlement is a structure on top of castle or fortress walls that protects from attack. Historically, battlements were usually narrow walls at the top of the outermost walls of a castle. Battlements have several important parts. The short, topmost part of the wall was called the parapet.

What is the keep in a castle?

keep, English term corresponding to the French donjon for the strongest portion of the fortification of a castle, the place of last resort in case of siege or attack. ... The keep was either a single tower or a larger fortified enclosure.

What are arrow slits in castles called?

An arrowslit (often also referred to as an arrow loop, loophole or loop hole, and sometimes a balistraria) is a narrow vertical aperture in a fortification through which an archer can launch arrows or a crossbowman can launch bolts.

How to pronounce balistraria

What are windows on a castle called?

An embrasure is the opening in a battlement between the two raised solid portions, referred to as crenel or crenelle in a space hollowed out throughout the thickness of a wall by the establishment of a bay.

What are the up and down bits on a castle called?

The raised parts are called cops or merlons, the indentations embrasures or crenelles.

What are the notches on a castle called?

A crenellation is a specific type of battlement, which looks like notched teeth. The high section of these notches are called merlons. 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.

What is a small castle called?

A keep (from the Middle English kype) is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility.

What is a Bailey in a castle?

A bailey or ward in a fortification is a courtyard enclosed by a curtain wall. In particular, an early type of European castle was known as a motte-and-bailey.

What is a palisade in a castle?

palisade Add to list Share. A palisade is a heavy-duty fence that's strong enough to keep out intruders, like one you might see around a military camp. Traditionally, palisades were built with wooden stakes around small forts or castles as a way to keep out enemies.

What is the entrance room of a castle called?

Gatehouses and Guardrooms

The modern gatehouse is a feature of European castles, manor houses and mansions. Gatehouses made their first appearance in the early antiquity when it became necessary to protect the main entrance to a castle or town.

What was the most important room in any castle?

The most important room in a castle was the Great Hall. This is where all the members of the household sat down to eat at tables set up for every meal. It was where feasts were held for special days, or when there were guests. King Arthur's Pentecost Feast takes place in such a Hall.

What is the strongest part of a castle?

Discover the might of the castle gatehouse, the strongest and most defensive part of any castle.

What is a portcullis in a castle?

: a grating of iron hung over the gateway of a fortified place and lowered between grooves to prevent passage.

What is a Barbican in a medieval castle?

A barbican (from Old French: barbacane) is a fortified outpost or fortified gateway, such as at an outer defense perimeter of a city or castle, or any tower situated over a gate or bridge which was used for defensive purposes.

What is the oldest castle in Great Britain?

Built in 1067 by Robert of Mortain, the Berkhamsted Castle is the oldest castle in England.

What is the Scottish word for castle?

The word caisteal (pronounced kash-tyall) means 'castle, stone fort'.

What are the 3 types of castles?

The three main types of castles are the motte and bailey castle, the stone keep castle, and the concentric castle.

What are 4 types of castles?

Use the links below to read through the information on each of the four different types of Medieval castles; Motte and Bailey, Concentric, Shell Keep and Square Keep.

What is the medieval name for Courtyard?

Bailey: This is a courtyard or open space surrounded by walls. The walls that make up the Bailey are also considered to be part of the Bailey. A castle could have several. Sometimes they were called the upper bailey and lower bailey or the west bailey and east bailey.

Why do churches have battlements?

A fortified church is a church that is built to serve a defensive role in times of war. Such churches were specially designed to incorporate military features, such as thick walls, battlements, and embrasures.