battlement

noun

bat·​tle·​ment ˈba-tᵊl-mənt 

: a parapet with open spaces that surmounts a wall and is used for defense or decoration

battlemented

ˈba-tᵊl-ˌmen-təd 

adjective

Illustration of battlement

• 1 crenellations
• 2 merlons
• 3 machicolations

Examples of battlement in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The castle, built as a home for Col. William Henry Morgan in 1904 with towers, turrets, and battlements (and a rotunda and exquisite woodcarving inside), served as an Elks Lodge from 1938 to 1964; corporate headquarters for Alliance Machine; and later as a public school administration office. —Jacqueline Kehoe, Midwest Living, 22 Apr. 2026

Buildings of this style were often made of stone and could be identified by their elaborate asymmetrical rooflines, tourelles, and battlements with machicolations—all of which can be seen enveloping the façade of Ardross Castle. —Alison McDermott, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026

Octave wants to show me the renovations to the battlements. —Elisa Shua Dusapin, Literary Hub, 9 Jan. 2026

The group has quite literally been split into two camps, separated by barbed wire, battlements, and corpses. —Jack King, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English batelment, from Anglo-French *bataillement, from batailler to fortify with battlements — more at battle

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

battlement

noun

bat·​tle·​ment ˈbat-ᵊl-mənt 

: a low wall (as at the top of a castle or a tower) with open spaces to shoot through