portcullis

Meanings

Plural: portculli, portcullises, portcullisses, portscullis

Noun

gate consisting of an iron or wooden grating that hangs in the entry to a castle or fortified town; can be lowered to prevent passage
A gate in the form of a grating which is lowered into place at the gateway of a castle, a fort, etc.
An old English coin from the reign of Elizabeth I, minted for the use of the East India Company, and bearing the picture of a portcullis on the reverse.

Verb

To obstruct with, or as with, a portcullis; to shut; to bar.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English portcolyse, from Old French porte colëice, from porte (“door”) + feminine of colëiz (“sliding”), ultimately from Latin colāre.

Synonyms

cataract

Scrabble Score: 14

portcullis is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
portcullis is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
portcullis is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 19

portcullis is a valid Words With Friends word