Forms: 4–5 batelment, 5 -eillement, 5–6 -ilment, illement, -ylment(e, battilment, 6– battlement. [ME. bateill-, batayle-, batelment, a. OF. *bataille-, *bateillement, f. batailler (= Pr. batalhar). OF. had also (later) batillement, f. ba(s)tillier, whence Caxton’s batillement: as to the relation of the two forms see BATTLE v.2]
An indented parapet at the top of a wall, at first used only in fortified buildings for purposes of defence against assailants, but afterwards in the architectural decoration of ecclesiastical and other edifices. The raised parts are called cops or merlons, the indentations embrasures or crenelles.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1459. Enbaned vnder batelment with bantelles quoynt.
1443. Test. Ebor. (1855), II. 89. Ad facturam unius batilment super ecclesiam predictam.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 100 b. Som ran to the creneaulx or batillements of the walles.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., III. iii. 52. This Castle’s tatter’d Battlements.
1611. Bible, Deut. xxii. 8. When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roofe.
1762. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), I. 169. The battlements of all the said chapels and porches.
1814. Scott, Wav., lxiii. The battlements above the gates were broken and thrown down.
b. loosely for ‘embattled roof.’
1595. Shaks., John, II. i. 375. These scroyles of Anjou … stand securely on their battelments.
1677. Moxon, Mech. Exerc. (1703), 157. Battlement, a flat Roof or Platform to walk on. But Battlements are more properly Walls built about the Platform to inclose it.
1803. Bristed, Ped. Tour, II. 470. Presently appeared, upon the battlements above, some female forms, arrayed in white.
c. transf. A crenelated brim on cups, etc. d. fig. The towering summits of the mountains, the roof of the heavens.
1444. Test. Ebor. (1855), II. 98. Unam peciam [cup] coopertam cum batelment deauratam.
c. 1530. in Gutch, Coll. Cur., II. 327. A standing Cuppe withe a Cover and Batilments of silvar.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 742. Thrown by angry Jove Sheer o’re the Chrystal Battlements.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 16. 112. The torn battlements of the mountain.
e. Comb., as battlement-wise adv.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Countr. Farm, 512. A smooth board, six or seuen ynches square, and cut battlement-wise at each end.
