barbican

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Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbɑː(ɹ)bɪkən/

Noun

barbican (plural barbicans)

1. A tower at the entrance to a castle or fortified town
2. A fortress at the end of a bridge.
3. An opening in the wall of a fortress through which the guns are levelled; a narrow loophole through which arrows and other missiles may be shot.
   • 1922 James Joyce, Ulysses 11:

     Two shafts of soft daylight fell across the flagged floor from the high barbacans.

4. A temporary wooden tower built for defensive purposes.

Synonyms

• (entryway fortification) see guardhouse

Translations

• French: barbacane
• Italian: barbacane
• Portuguese: barbacã
• Russian: барбака́н

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