oillet

English

An oillet seen from the rear

Alternative forms

• oylet

Etymology

Borrowed from French œillet, from œil (“eye”), from Latin oculum, accusative singular of oculus.

Noun

oillet (plural oillets)

1. (medieval architecture) A round hole or circle with which an opening for an arrowslit terminates.
   • 1987, Gene Wolfe, chapter XLI, in The Urth of the New Sun, 1st US edition, New York: Tor Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 244:

     Entertaining myself with such reflections as these, I had walked perhaps half a league (halting from time to time to spy out both public halls and private apartments through the oillets the place provided) when I stumbled over the body of an assassin.

Anagrams

• Elliot, tollie