Obs. Obs. [Cf. TOP sb.1 9 and CASTLE sb. 7.] An embattled platform at the head of a ship’s masts, from which missiles were discharged: later called also top (TOP sb.1 9).
1335. Exch. Acc., K. R., 19/14 m. 6 (P.R.O.). In paracione de guerra et arraiamenta cuiusdam magni Navis vocat’ la Trinite, vt in Ofcastel, Topcastel et Forcastel…. In cordis emptis pro petris tractandis apud Topcastel. xviij d. [Rendered, in Nicolas, Hist. Royal Navy (1847), II. 170. The ‘Trinity,’ of two hundred tons, was prepared for war with an ‘ofcastle, topcastle, and forecastle’; the ‘ofcastle’ being the aftcastle, and the ‘topcastle’ the ‘top’ or stage at the top of the mast; and ropes were bought for pulling stones up to the topcastle.]
13[?]. Coer de L., 2539. Sterne strokes with harde stones Out off the top-castel on hygh.
a. 1400. Siege of Troy, 695, in Archiv neu. Spr., LXXII. 27. Vche maste hade top castel And asayliþ þe cite harde and wel.
1411. Exch. Acc. K. R., 44/17. La barge appelle la Marie de la Toure … ove lapparail … une mast, un trief ove iiij. bonetz, un topchastiell, un seilyerde.
c. 1450. Chron. London (Kingsford, 1905), 145. Beryng the standard of Seynt Jorge in the topcastell lyke Englissh schippes.
1555. Eden, Decades, 27. The foreshyppe and the sterne, the toppe castel, the maste [etc.].
b. transf. and fig.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Luke xi. 110. To sytte euen in the high topcastell of true seruyng of God.
1556. Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden), 84. There was a man made too tope-castelles above the crosse of the stepulle, and there stode with a flagge in hys honde and viij. flagges hangynge besyde.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. xxi. (Roxb.), 252/1. He beareth Vert, the top castle of a Loome, with its pullaces, issueing out of base, Or.
