Battlement
noun
noun ·3 syllables ·Uncommon ·College level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 In fortification: an indented parapet, formed by a series of rising members called cops or merlons, separated by openings called crenelles or embrasures, the soldier sheltering himself behind the merlon while he fires through the embrasure or through a loophole in the battlement.
- 2 a rampart built around the top of a castle with regular gaps for firing arrows or guns wordnet
- 3 Any high wall for defense.
- 4 The towering roof of heaven. poetic
Example
More examples"Caleb hastened to the eastern battlement, which commanded the prospect of the whole sands, very near as far as the village of Wolf's Hope. He could easily see his master riding in that direction, as fast as the horse could carry him."
Etymology
From Middle English batilment, from Old French bataillement, earlier bastillement (“fortification”), from bastillier (“to fortify, to equip with battlements”), from bastille (“fortress”) (see bastion).
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.