A heavy grating of iron or iron reinforced wooden bars, suspended on chains which were worked by winches; used to cover an entrance to a castle. The porticullis could by dropped quickly down vertical grooves in entryway called coulisses, or at any other important entrance in the event of attack. Some castles had the machinery for raising and lowering the porticullis, usually a windlass, was accommodated above the entry, in a chamber situated between the flanker towers and was only accessible through one of them. This chamber was often put to domestic use despite the obstruction of the windlass and often the machinery for moving the drawbridge as well. Some gateways were provided with a succession of porticullises, at some distance apart. See gatehouse, successive porticullis. (L. porta, gate; coulisse, gutter).
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