machicolate

English

Parapets at Newark Castle, Port Glasgow, supported on decorative machicolation.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin machicolātus, perfect participle of machicolāre, from Old French machicoller, from machicolleis (“machicolation”), from Old Occitan machacol, from macar (“to crush”) + col (“neck”).

Verb

machicolate (third-person singular simple present machicolates, present participle machicolating, simple past and past participle machicolated)

1. To furnish with machicolations.
   • 1871, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, “The Last Tournament”, in Gareth and Lynette etc.‎^[1], London: Strahan, published 1872, page 116:

     The wide-wing’d sunset of the misty marsh / Glared on a huge machicolated tower / That stood with open doors […]

Derived terms

• machicolation