Barbican

A barbican (from medieval Latin barbecana, "outer fortification of a city or castle," a general Romanic word, perhaps from Arabic or Persian cf. bab-khanah "gate-house" and "towered gateway"^[1] or from the mediaeval English burgh-kenning ^[2]) is a fortified outpost or gateway, such as an outer defense to a city or castle, or any tower situated over a gate or bridge which was used for defensive purposes. Usually barbicans were situated outside the main line of defenses and connected to the city walls with a walled road called the neck.

In the 15th century, with the improvement in siege tactics and artillery, barbicans lost their significance. However, several barbicans were built even in the 16th century.

Castles with Barbicans

References

^ "Barbican" EOL Other possible roots of the word lie in the Arabic word barbakh, meaning a canal or channel through which water flows, might have been the source of the loop-hole meaning.
^ Etymology suggested by Sir Henry Spelman in the 1640s. He explained the name as a combination of “burgh” meaning tower; and “ken” meaning see or watch (as in the folk song “D’ya ken John Peel”). See also Where does the name 'Barbican' come from?

[1] "Barbican" EOL Other possible roots of the word lie in the Arabic word barbakh, meaning a canal or channel through which water flows, might have been the source of the loop-hole meaning.

[2] Etymology suggested by Sir Henry Spelman in the 1640s. He explained the name as a combination of “burgh” meaning tower; and “ken” meaning see or watch (as in the folk song “D’ya ken John Peel”). See also Where does the name 'Barbican' come from?

[1]

[2]

Castles with Barbicans

See also

References