▪ I. battlement, n.
(ˈbæt(ə)lmənt)
Forms: 4–5 batelment, 5 -eillement, 5–6 -ilment, -illement, -ylment(e, battilment, 6– battlement.
[ME. bateill-, batayle-, batelment, a. OF. *bataille-, *bateillement. f. batailler (= Pr. batalhar). OF. had also (later) batillement, f. ba(s)tillier, whence Caxton's batillement: as to the relation of the two forms see battle v.2]
An indented parapet at the top of a wall, at first used only in fortified buildings for purposes of defence against assailants, but afterwards in the architectural decoration of ecclesiastical and other edifices. The raised parts are called cops or merlons, the indentations embrasures or crenelles.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 1459 Enbaned vnder batelment with bantelles quoynt. 1443 Test. Ebor. (1855) II. 89 Ad facturam unius batilment super ecclesiam predictam. 1475 Caxton Jason 100 b, Som ran to the creneaulx or batillements of the walles. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, iii. iii. 52 This Castle's tatter'd Battlements. 1611 Bible Deut. xxii. 8 When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roofe. 1762 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) I. 169 The battlements of all the said chapels and porches. 1814 Scott Wav. lxiii, The battlements above the gates were broken and thrown down. |
b. loosely for ‘embattled roof.’
| 1595 Shakes. John ii. i. 375 These scroyles of Anjou..stand securely on their battelments. 1677 Moxon Mech. Exerc. (1703) 157 Battlement, a flat Roof or Platform to walk on. But Battlements are more properly Walls build about the Platform to inclose it. 1803 Bristed Ped. Tour II. 470 Presently appeared, upon the battlements above, some female forms, arrayed in white. |
c. transf. A crenelated brim on cups, etc. d. fig. The towering summits of the mountains, the roof of the heavens.
| 1444 Test. Ebor. (1855) II. 98 Unam peciam [cup] coopertam cum batelment deauratam. c 1530 in Gutch Coll. Cur. II. 327 A standing Cuppe withe a Cover and Batilments of silvar. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 742 Thrown by angry Jove Sheer o're the Chrystal Battlements 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. §16. 112 The torn battlements of the mountain. |
e. Comb., as battlement-wise adv.
| 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Countr. Farm 512 A smooth board, six or seuen ynches square, and cut battlement-wise at each end. |
▪ II. ˈbattlement, v.
[f. prec. n.]
To furnish or decorate with battlements.
| 1603 [see next]. 1884 Pall Mall G. 18 July 11/2 It is proposed to..battlement the top of the wall. |