Fortification Flashcards
A defensive military work constructed for the purpose of strengthening a position.
Fortification
Surrounded by or as if by a rampart.
Circumvallate
A projection part of a rampart or other fortification, typically forming an irregular pentagon attached at the base to the main work.
Bastion
A gateway in a fortification permitting a large number of troops to move rapidly from the beseiged position and attack the besiegers.
Sally Port
A vault or chamber in a rampart, having embrasures for artillery.
Casemate
An enclosing wall connecting two bastions or towers.
Curtain
The rear passageway into a bastion or similar outwork.
Gorge
The top platform or horizontal surface of a rampart where guns are mounted.
Terreplein
The part of a bastion that extends from the curtain to the face.
Flank
The angle between the face and the flank of a bastion.
Shoulder
Either of the two outer sides that form the salient of a bastion.
Face
A V-shaped outwork outside the main ditch of a fortress, covering the works between two bastions.
Ravelin
A minor defensive position established beyond a main fortified area.
Outwork
A slope extending downward in front of a fortification in such a way that it brings advancing enemy soldiers into the most direct line of fire.
Glacis
The inner slope or wall of the ditch surrounding a rampart.
Scarp or Escarp
The exterior slope or wall of the ditch surrounding a rampart.
Counter Scarp
A defensive wall or elevation of earth or stone protecting soldiers from enemy fire.
Parapet
A projecting course of stones below the parapet of a rampart.
Cordon
A ledge between the exterior slope of a rampart and the moat of a fortification.
Berm or Berme
A broad embankment of earth raised as a fortification around a place and usually surmounted by a parapet.
Rampart
A steep mound of earth surrounded by a ditch and surmounted by a timber stockade and tower.
Motte
A Norman Castle of the 10th through 12th centuries, consisting of a motte placed within a bailey.
Motte and Bailey
The outer wall of a castle or the courtyard enclosed by it.
Bailey
A fence of pales set firmly in the ground for enclosure or defense,
Palisade
A pointed stick or stake.
Pale
A small tower forming part of a larger structure, frequently beginning some distance above the ground.
Turret or Tourelle
A small overhanging turret on a wall or tower, often at a corner or near a gateway.
Bartizan
The innermost and strongest structure or tower of a medieval castle, used as a place of residence, esp. in times of siege.
Keep or Donjon
A subordinate or private place of worship or prayer within a larger complex.
Chapel
A fortified group of buildings usually dominating the surrounding country and held by a prince or noble in feudal times.
Castle
A fortress in a commanding position in or near a city, used in the control of the inhabitants and in defense during attack or siege.
Citadel
An open space within or between the walls of a castle.
Ward
An outwork on the approach to a castle or town, esp. a watchtower at the gate or drawbridge.
Barbican or Barbacan
A fortified wall encircling a castle or town, or the place so enclosed.
Enceinte
A parapet having a regular alternation of merlons and crenels, originally for defense but later used as a decorative motif.
Battlement or Embattlement
A lady’s private chamber in a medieval castle.
Bower
A small rear door or gate to a fort or castle.
Postern
The privy of a medieval castle or monastery.
Necessarium or Garderobe
A temporary wooden fortification in medieval architecture, erected at the top of a wall during a siege.
Brattice
A continous gangway providing a means of communication behind the rampart of a fortified wall.
Chemin-de-ronde
A projecting gallery or parapet at the top of a castle wall, supported by a corbeled arches and having openings in the floor through which stones, molten lead, or boilding oil could be cast upon an enemy beneath.
Machicolation
A large hall serving as the main or central gathering space of a castle.
Great hall
A darkm often underground prison or cell, as in a medieval castle.
Dungeon
A secret dungeon having an opening only in the ceiling, through which prisoners were dropped.
Oubliette
One of the solid parts between the crenels of a battlements.
Merlon
Any of the open spaces alternating with the merlons of a battlement.
Crenel
Having battlements.
Crenelated
An opening, such as a loophole or crenel, through which missiles may be discharged.
Embrasure
A small aperture in the wall of a medieval castle used as a window or loophole.
Eyelet, Oillet, Oyelet
A small or narrow opening in a wall of a fortification for the discharge of missiles.
Loophole
A bridge that can be raised, let down, or drawn aside to prevent access or to permit passage beneath it.
Drawbridge
A strong grating of iron or timber hung over the gateway of a fortified place in such a way that it could be lowered quickly to prevent passage.
Portcullis
A broad, deep ditch, usually filled with water, surrounding the rampart of a fortified town, fortress, or castle as protection against assault.
Moat
