Glossary

adulterine unlicensed castle

apse circular or polygonal end of a tower or chapel

arcading rows of arches supported on columns

arrow-loop or slit long, narrow (usually vertical) opening in wall or battlements. Round or triangular ends were for cross-bows, as were horizontal cross-slits which gave greater range

ashlar blocks of smooth, squared stone of any kind

bailey or ward courtyard within the castle walls

barbican outward defensive continuation of a gateway or entrance

barmkin, bawn yard surrounded by outer defensive walling

barrel vault semicircular roof (stone or timber)

bartizan small turret projecting from the corner or flank of a tower or wall, usually at the top

bastion tower or turret projecting from a wall or at the junction of two walls

battlements or crenellation the parapet of a tower or wall with indentations or openings (embrasures or crenelles) alternating with solid projections (merlons)

belfry tall moveable tower on wheels used in sieges

buttress projecting pillar added to strengthen a wall

corbel stone bracket projecting from a wall or corner

cross-wall internal dividing wall in a great tower

curtain general word for walling enclosing a courtyard. Sited between towers, or tower and gatehouse, and appearing to hang between them

donjon alternative name for a great tower

drawbridge wooden bridge (which could be raised and lowered) across a ditch or moat

dressing carved or smooth stonework around openings and along edges

forebuilding structure on the outside wall of a great tower protecting the entrance and all or part of the approaching stairs. Some forebuildings contained chambers and chapels over the stairs

gallery long narrow passage or room

garderobe latrine

gatehouse room over the castle entrance

great tower or keep the main tower of a castle

gun loop or gun port opening in a wall for a gun

hoarding defensive covered wooden gallery placed above a tower or curtain. Floor was slatted to allow defenders to drop missiles or liquids on to besiegers

jamb straight side of a doorway, archway or window

light windowpane or window division

lintel horizontal beam of wood or stone positioned across the top of an opening

machiolation projecting part of a stone or brick parapet with holes in the floor, as in hoarding

mangonel stone-throwing machine

meurtrière or murder hole opening in the roof or a gateway or part of gatehouse over an entrance. Popularly believed to be used in the same way as hoardings, but might have enabled defenders to channel water to wooden areas set on fire by attackers

motte a mound on which a castle was built (man-made or natural)

oriel window projecting curved or polygonal window

oubliette dungeon or pit reached by trap-door used for holding prisoners (in Scotland a pit prison)

palisade a defensive fence

pele tower small tower house

pilaster buttress buttress with a projection, positioned in corner or mid-wall

pipe rolls accounts prepared annually by sheriffs for the king

plantation castle castles built in Ireland on land given to those who would support the Crown

portcullis wood and iron grille-pattern gate, raised and lowered in grooves at an entrance

postern small gateway, usually at the side or rear of a castle

quatrefoil four-lobed, six-foil six-lobed; trefoil three-lobed

quoin dressed corner stone at an angle of a building

relieving arch arch built in a wall to relieve the thrust on another opening

revet face with a layer of stone for more strength. Some earth mottes were revetted with stone

rib vaulting arched roof with ribs of raised moulding at the groins (junction of two curved surfaces)

rubble uncut or only roughly shaped stone, for walling

scarp inner wall or slope of a ditch or moat (counterscarp: outer wall or slope)

slight to damage or destroy a castle to render it unfit for use

solar lord’s parlour or private quarters

stepped recessed in a series of ledges

stronghouse a mansion capable of being defended

turret small tower

wall-walk path along the top of a wall protected by a parapet

wing wall wall descending the slope of a motte

yett iron gates protecting an entrance