Medieval Architecture Terminology

noun a fortified outpost or gateway, usually at the entrance of a castle or walled city

• The Barbican Centre is a major performing arts venue in London.
• Let's meet at the Barbican for the concert tonight.
• I love hanging out at the Barbican, it's so chill.
• Her words were like barbican, sharp and cutting.

noun a small, overhanging turret or balcony supported by corbels, typically at a corner of a building

• The castle had a bartizan on each corner, providing a lookout point for guards.
• I had never heard of a bartizan before visiting the old fortress.
• Check out the cool bartizan at the top of that tower!
• Her sharp wit was like a bartizan, always ready to defend against any verbal attack.

noun a parapet with open spaces that surmounts a wall and is used for defense or decoration

• The soldiers stood guard on the battlement, watching for any signs of approaching enemies.
• We climbed to the top of the castle to get a great view from the battlement.
• I can't believe we snuck onto the battlement last night, it was so cool!
• Her emotions were like a battlement, strong and impenetrable.

noun a secret dungeon with access only through a trapdoor in its ceiling

• The prisoner was thrown into the oubliette as punishment for his crimes.
• They found a hidden oubliette in the old castle.
• I heard they keep the really dangerous criminals in the oubliette.
• Being stuck in that dead-end job felt like being trapped in an oubliette.

noun a series of indentations or loopholes in a wall or other fortification for shooting through or for decoration

• The medieval castle was adorned with intricate crennellations along the outer walls.
• The old fort had cool crennellations on the top that we could hide behind during our game of hide and seek.
• Check out the crennellations on that building, they look pretty badass.
• The crennellations of her mind were filled with thoughts of adventure and excitement.

noun a place where an abbey once stood or was located

• The abbeystede was a peaceful sanctuary for monks to practice their daily rituals.
• Let's take a trip to the abbeystede and explore its historical significance.
• I heard the abbeystede is haunted, wanna check it out?
• In the hustle and bustle of the city, the abbeystede felt like a place frozen in time.