portculles

plural portculleses · plural portcullesses

1. archaicArchaic form of portcullis.

   Then they made an order that the gates, portculleses, posts and chaines in the Citty of London be made and sett up att the publick charge of the state.

   a. 1661, Thomas Rugge, Diurnall, folio 64, recto; republished as William L. Sachse, editor, The Diurnal of Thomas Rugg, 1659–1661, London: Offices of the Royal Historical Society, […], 1961, page 44

   2 more examples

   136. Defenſive War by Sea. 1ſt, how to prepare a Ship for a cloſe Fight, by ordering their Bulk-heads, Leaves, Coamings, Lock-holes in Rolls, falſe Ports, Portculleſſes, &c. and taking the Running Rigging into cloſe Quarters.

   1703, “Miscellanies”, in Bibliotheca Annua: or, the Annual Catalogue for the Years, 1702, and 1703. […], number 4, […] J[ohn] Nutt […], page 69, column 2

   One strong entrance in character with the Architectural composition, is a conspicuous feature in the front; it is designed to have a strong stationary wrought iron grating or Portculles over the gateway, which affords light to the entrance: between it and the rear gate is sufficient room for a team and wagon to stand, that will admit of the keeper’s securing the front gate previous to the opening of the rear one.

   1823, Thomas Wilson, Picture of Philadelphia, for 1824, Containing the “Picture of Philadelphia, for 1811, by James Mease, M.D.” with All Its Improvements since That Period, Philadelphia, Pa.: […] Thomas Town, […], page 57