An opening between the corbels which support a projecting parapet, or in the floor of a gallery or the roof of a portal, for shooting or dropping missiles upon 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.
The act of discharging missiles or pouring burning or melted substances upon assailants through such apertures.
A projecting stone gallery on corbels from a tower or wall head. Similar to hoarding which was timber.
An opening between the corbel stones of a projecting roof through which missiles or hot fluids, like molten lead, could be discharged on assailants below. From the French mache-col, or "neck-crusher." A box machicoulis added the further protection of a projecting, vertical parapet above the openings between the corbels.
A projection in the battlements of a wall with openings through which missles can be dropped on besiegers. (Gies, Joseph and Francis. Life in a Medieval Castle, 226) Opening in floor of projecting parapet of a castle between supporting corbels, through which missles could be dropped on to assailants at base of wall. Translation of hoards into stone. (Wood, Margaret. The English Medieval House, 413) Parapet built out on corbels so that missles could be hurled through the aperture so created to prevent men attacking the base of a wall. (Wise, Terence. Medieval Warfare, 249) Related terms: Castle
A battlement projecting from the wall of a castle or fort, with openings in its bottom through which the defenders could hurl missles onto the heads of the attackers below.
overhanging structure on a fortified wall; allowed soldiers on the wall to shoot down on the enemy
Part of a defence system a castle, in particular a projecting parapet with openings in the floor between corbels.
The projection of the parapet over corbels so that slots could be provided that faced straight down to the bottom of the wall and one could fire at, or pour boiling water or oil on, attackers who had reached that point.
a projecting parapet supported by corbels on a medieval castle; has openings through which stones or boiling water could be dropped on an enemy
A stone chute in the outer part of a wall, missiles were dropped down these chutes to harm offending armies. Also, the word was used to describe stone hoardings.
in medieval military architecture, a series of openings in a stone parapet, through which missiles or boiling liquid could be dropped onto the heads of assailants beneath.
Opening between supporting corbels for dropping stones etc onto assailants. machicolated adj.
An opening in the floor of an overhanging gallery through which the defenders of a castle dropped stones and boiling liquids on attackers.
Machicoulis Opening between the corbels of a parapet or in the floor, used for attacking besiegers. See also Murder Holes.
A machicolation is a floor opening between the supporting corbels of a battlement, through which stones could be dropped on attackers at the base of a defensive wall. The design was developed in the middle ages when the Norman crusaders returned (see Normans). A machicolated battlement projects outwards from the supporting wall in order to facilitate this.
