Glossary of Castle Terms Arrow Loop – A narrow vertical slit Garderobe – A small latrine or toilet Portcullis – A heavy timber or cut into a wall through which arrows either built into the thickness of the metal grille that protects the castle can be fired from inside. wall or projected out from it. entrance and can be raised or lowered from within the castle. Bailey – The ward or courtyard inside Gate House – The complex of the castle walls; includes exercise towers, bridges and barriers built Postern Gate – A side or less area, parade ground, emergency to protect each entrance through a important gate into a castle; usually corral. castle or town wall. for peacetime use by pedestrians. Barbican – The gateway or outworks Great Hall – The building in the inner Rampart – Defensive stone or earth defending the drawbridge. ward that houses the main meeting wall surrounding castle. and dining area for the castle’s Bastion – A small tower at the end Sally-port – Small, heavily fortified residents. of a curtain wall or in the middle side door from which defenders can of the outside wall; solid masonry Inner Ward – The open area in the rush out, strike, and retire. projection; structural rather than centre of a castle. Solar – Upper living room, often over inhabitable. Keep – A strong stone tower; the great hall; the lord’s private living Battlement – Parapet with main tower; dungeon ( or donjon); room. indentations or embrasures, with stronghold. Turret – Small tower, round or raised portions (merlons) between; Lancet – Long, narrow window with polygonal; often a lookout. crenellations; a narrow wall built pointed head. along the outer edge of the wall-walk Vault – Stone roofing. for protection against attack. Loophole – Narrow, tall opening Wall-stair – Staircase built into the in wall for light, air, or shooting Buttery – Next to the kitchen, a thickness of a wall. through. room from where wine is dispensed. Wall-walk – Passage along castle Moat – A deep trench usually filled Buttress – Wall projection for extra wall; may be roofed. with water that surrounds a castle. support; flying - narrow, arched bridge against the main structure; Murder Holes – A section between pilaster - gradually recedes into the the main gate and an inner portcullis structure as it ascends. where arrows, rocks, and hot oil can be dropped from the roof through Cesspit – The opening in a wall in holes. Provides good cover for which the waste from one or more defenders and leaves the attackers garderobes is collected. exposed. Only used when outer gate Crenellation – Battlement at the top has been breached. of a tower or wall. Oubliette – A dungeon reached by a Drawbridge – A heavy timber trap door; starvation hole. platform built to span a moat Outer Curtain – The wall that between a gatehouse and encloses the outer ward. surrounding land that can be raised when required to block an entrance. Outer Ward – The space between the inner and outer walls – often used for Dungeon – A small, dark cell, usually knights’ training and exercise. underground. Parapet – Low wall on outer side of Gallery – Long passage or room. main wall.