barbican, barbacan
(noun) a tower that is part of a defensive structure (such as a castle)
Source: WordNet® 3.1
barbican (plural barbicans)
A tower at the entrance to a castle or fortified town
A fortress at the end of a bridge.
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.
A temporary wooden tower built for defensive purposes.
• (entryway fortification): see guardhouse
Source: Wiktionary
Bar"bi*can, Bar"ba*can, n. Etym: [OE. barbican, barbecan, F. barbacane, LL. barbacana, barbicana, of uncertain origin: cf. Ar. barbakh aqueduct, sewer. F. barbacane also means, an opening to let out water, loophole.]
1. ( Fort.) A tower or advanced work defending the entrance to a castle or city, as at a gate or bridge. It was often large and strong, having a ditch and drawbridge of its own.
2. An opening in the wall of a fortress, through which missiles were discharged upon an enemy.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
16 May 2025
(adjective) marked by columniation having free columns in porticoes either at both ends or at both sides of a structure
The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch “koffie,” borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish “kahve,” borrowed in turn from the Arabic “qahwah.” The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.
