A barbican (from Old French: barbacane) is a fortified outpost or fortified gateway, such as at an outer defense perimeter of a city or castle, or any tower situated over a gate or bridge which was used for defensive purposes.

The meaning of BARBICAN is an outer defensive work; especially : a tower at a gate or bridge. Did you know?

BARBICAN definition: a walled outwork or tower to protect a gate or drawbridge of a fortification | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples

What does the noun barbican mean? There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun barbican , two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Define barbican. barbican synonyms, barbican pronunciation, barbican translation, English dictionary definition of barbican. n. A tower or other fortification on the approach to a castle or town, especially one at a gate or drawbridge.

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[1250–1300; ME barbecan, barbican ‹ OF barbacane or ML barbacana, perh. ‹‹ Pers bālāḥāna terrace over a roof, upper floor, altered by assoc. with L barba beard, a beard marking the front or face of a thing]

Barbican definition: A tower or other fortification on the approach to a castle or town, especially one at a gate or drawbridge.

an outwork of a fortified place, as a castle. a defensive outpost of any sort. “Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. …

A barbican is the outer defence of a city or castle, especially a double tower above a gate or drawbridge; it is recorded from the 17th century as being retained as the name of a street in London. Recorded from Middle English, the word probably comes ultimately from Arabic.