Also embrazure. [a. F. embrasure (16th c.), f. embraser ‘to skue or chamfret off the jaumbes of a door or window’ (Cotgr.), synon. with braser (Cotgr.) and the mod.F. ébraser.]
1. A slanting or bevelling in the sides of an opening to a wall for a window or door, so that the inside profile of the window is larger than that of the outside.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Embrasure, in architecture, an enlargement of the gap, or aperture of a door, or window, within-side the wall.
1832. in Webster.
1858. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt. (1865), II. VII. vii. 329. They put me in a chair in the embrasure of a window.
1879. Sir G. Scott, Lect. Archit., I. 181. The spreading or embrasure of the jambs increases the openings inwards.
2. Mil. An opening widening from within made in an epaulement or parapet for the purpose of allowing a gun to be fired through it.
1702. Milit. Dict., Embrazures, the Gaps or Loopholes, left open in a Parapet for the Cannon to fire through.
1790. Beatson, Nav. & Mil. Mem., I. 47. Setting himself close to the wall under an embrasure.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, V. xxxiv. The eye could count each embrazure.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea (1877), III. i. 124. Riding straight at one of the embrasures [he] leapt his grey Arab into the breastwork.
b. A port-hole for the same purpose in a ship.
1759. Falconer, 90-Gun Ship, 43. Guns … From dread embrazures formidably peep.
1881. [see 3].
3. attrib.
1809. Naval Chron., XXII. 514. An embrasure battery of four guns.
1881. Daily News, 29 Aug., 3/4. I … jumped down on the embrasure port.
