mezenkooi

Dutch

A machicolation above the gate of the castle of Caen, France.

Etymology

From mees (“tit (bird)”) +‎ kooi (“cage”), a folk etymological interpretation of French mâchicoulis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmeː.zə(n)ˌkoːi̯/
• Hyphenation: me‧zen‧kooi

Noun

mezenkooi f (plural mezenkooien, diminutive mezenkooitje n)

1. a series of floor holes in a castle to drop or shoot projectiles; a machicolation
2. a bird-cage for a tit

Synonyms

(machicolation):

• mezekouw