Illustration of portcullis
portcullis
noun
port·cul·lis
pȯrt-ˈkə-ləs 
: a grating of iron hung over the gateway of a fortified place and lowered between grooves to prevent passage
Examples of portcullis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The entrance to the car park even passes under a portcullis and guests’ bags go through an X-ray machine hidden in the rock-face.
—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
The prior owner went all out on building a Medieval-style castle, with a moat, a drawbridge and a portcullis.
—
Katherine Clarke,
WSJ,
3 Mar. 2022
Then Iraq’s new rulers lowered a paper portcullis, demanding fees and the completion of myriad forms.
—
The Economist,
10 Apr. 2021
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Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
The prior owner went all out on building a Medieval-style castle, with a moat, a drawbridge and a portcullis.
—
Katherine Clarke,
WSJ,
3 Mar. 2022
Then Iraq’s new rulers lowered a paper portcullis, demanding fees and the completion of myriad forms.
—
The Economist,
10 Apr. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Portcullis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portcullis. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
portcullis
noun
port·cul·lis
pōrt-ˈkəl-əs
pȯrt-
: a heavy iron gate that can be lowered to prevent entrance (as to a castle)
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