machicolation Hear it!

machicolation Definition

ma·chico·la·tion (mə c̸hik′ə lā′s̸hən)

noun

  1. an opening in the floor of a projecting gallery or parapet, between the supports or corbels, or in the roof over an entrance, through which hot liquids, heavy stones, etc. could be dropped by the defenders of a fortress
  2. a gallery, parapet, etc. with such openings

Etymology: < machicolate

machicolation Usage Examples

Converse of object

call: In the later Middle Ages, these evolved into stone versions called machicolations.