Pōrt-cŭl'lis1, n.
n. [Fr. porte coulisse, from porte, a gate, and coulis, coulisse, Pr. coladitz, coulant, from Fr. couler, to flow, to glide, to strain, from Lat. colare, to filter, to strain.]
Sense 1. (Fort.) An assemblage of timbers joined to one another, and each pointed with iron, hung over the gateway of a fortified town, to be let down to prevent the entrance of an enemy.
She the huge portcullis high up drew. Milton.
Sense 2. An ancient English coin;—so called from its bearing the figure of a portcullis.
