Word Meanings - MACHICOLATION - Book Publishers vocabulary database

An opening between the corbels which support a projecting parapet, or in the floor of a gallery or the roof of a portal, shooting or dropping missiles upen assailants attacking the base of the walls. Also, the construction of such defenses,

Additional info about word: MACHICOLATION

An opening between the corbels which support a projecting parapet, or in the floor of a gallery or the roof of a portal, shooting or dropping missiles upen assailants attacking the base of the walls. Also, the construction of such defenses, in general, when of this character. See Illusts. of Battlement and Castle. 2. The act of discharging missiles or pouring burning or melted substances upon assailants through such apertures. (more info) F. mâchicolis, mâchecoulis; perh. fr. F. mèche match, combustible matter + OF. coulis, couleis, flowing, fr. OF. & F. couler to flow.

Related words: (words related to MACHICOLATION)

• SUPPORTABLE
  Capable of being supported, maintained, or endured; endurable. -- Sup*port"a*ble*ness, n. -- Sup*port"a*bly, adv.
• PROJECTION
  The representation of something; delineation; plan; especially, the representation of any object on a perspective plane, or such a delineation as would result were the chief points of the object thrown forward upon the plane, each in the direction
• OPENNESS
  The quality or state of being open.
• SUPPORTATION
  Maintenance; support. Chaucer. Bacon.
• PROJECTMENT
  Design; contrivance; projection. Clarendon.
• SHOOTING
  1. The act of one who, or that which, shoots; as, the shooting of an archery club; the shooting of rays of light. 2. A wounding or killing with a firearm; specifically , the killing of game; as, a week of shooting. 3. A sensation of darting pain;
• SUPPORTFUL
  Abounding with support. Chapman.
• OPEN SEA
  A sea open to all nations. See Mare clausum.
• SUPPORTLESS
  Having no support. Milton.
• WHICHEVER; WHICHSOEVER
  Whether one or another; whether one or the other; which; that one which; as, whichever road you take, it will lead you to town.
• PROJECTURE
  A jutting out beyond a surface.
• OPEN
  1. Free of access; not shut up; not closed; affording unobstructed ingress or egress; not impeding or preventing passage; not locked up or covered over; -- applied to passageways; as, an open door, window, road, etc.; also, to inclosed structures
• OPEN-MOUTHED
  Having the mouth open; gaping; hence, greedy; clamorous. L'Estrange.
• FLOORHEADS
  The upper extermities of the floor of a vessel.
• FLOORAGE
  Floor space.
• SHOOT
  An inclined plane, either artificial or natural, down which timber, coal, etc., are caused to slide; also, a narrow passage, either natural or artificial, in a stream, where the water rushes rapidly; esp., a channel, having a swift current,
• DROPPINGLY
  In drops.
• WHICH
  the root of hwa who + lic body; hence properly, of what sort or kind; akin to OS. hwilik which, OFries. hwelik, D. welk, G. welch, OHG. welih, hwelih, Icel. hvilikr, Dan. & Sw. hvilken, Goth. hwileiks, 1. Of what sort or kind; what; what a; who.
• ATTACK
  1. To fall upon with force; to assail, as with force and arms; to assault. "Attack their lines." Dryden. 2. To assail with unfriendly speech or writing; to begin a controversy with; to attempt to overthrow or bring into disrepute, by criticism
• FLOORWALKER
  One who walks about in a large retail store as an overseer and director.
• PROPENE
  See PROPYLENE
• EAVESDROPPER
  One who stands under the eaves, or near the window or door of a house, to listen; hence, a secret listener.
• OVERSHOOT
  1. To shoot over or beyond. "Not to overshoot his game." South. 2. To pass swiftly over; to fly beyond. Hartle. 3. To exceed; as, to overshoot the truth. Cowper. To overshoot one's self, to venture too far; to assert too much.
• PROPENSE
  Leaning toward, in a moral sense; inclined; disposed; prone; as, women propense to holiness. Hooker. -- Pro*pense"ly, adv. -- Pro*pense"ness, n.
• TRAP SHOOTING
  Shooting at pigeons liberated, or glass balls or clay pigeons sprung into the air, from a trap. -- Trap shooter.
• OUTSHOOT
  To exceed or excel in shooting; to shoot beyond. Bacon. Men are resolved never to outshoot their forefathers' mark. Norris.
• TRANSPORTAL
  Transportation; the act of removing from one locality to another. "The transportal of seeds in the wool or fur of quadrupeds." Darwin.
• EAVESDROPPING
  The habit of lurking about dwelling houses, and other places where persons meet fro private intercourse, secretly listening to what is said, and then tattling it abroad. The offense is indictable at common law. Wharton.
• INSUPPORTABLE
  Incapable of being supported or borne; unendurable; insufferable; intolerable; as, insupportable burdens; insupportable pain. -- In`sup*port"a*ble*ness, n. -- In`sup*port"a*bly, adv.