Meaning of "barbican" in English

A barbican is a fortification structure that was commonly used in medieval times. It is an outer defense, such as a tower or a gate, that was positioned in front of the main entrance to a castle or city. Barbicans were designed to protect the gate from direct attack and could be an effective deterrent against invaders. Typically constructed as part of a wall or a separate structure, barbicans incorporated features such as arrow slits and moats. This allowed defenders to mount a stronger defense against any advancing enemy forces.

Meaning of "barbican" in French

In French, the term "barbican" retains its English meaning and is used to refer to a similar architectural defense structure in medieval fortifications. The concept translates directly, describing an exterior stronghold built to reinforce the main gateway of a fort or city wall. Typically found in ancient castles or fortified towns, barbicans served the critical role of enhancing security by keeping attackers at bay and providing defenders with a strategic advantage to fend off sieges and assaults.

Pronunciation of "barbican" in English

Phonetic Transcription: /ˈbɑː.bɪ.kən/

Pronunciation Variations: The pronunciation of "barbican" remains relatively consistent across English-speaking regions. However, the emphasis may slightly vary with stress placed differently depending on regional accents, such as American or British English.

Pronunciation of "barbican" in French

Phonetic Transcription: /baʁ.bi.kɑ̃/

Pronunciation Variations: In French, pronunciation does not vary significantly across the country, although subtle differences can be detected between regions, especially those closer to borders where influence from neighboring languages might occur.

Sentence examples in English and translation to French

  1. The barbican stood tall in front of the medieval castle.
    (Le barbican se dressait haut devant le château médiéval.)

  2. Ancient barbicans were designed to protect city gates.
    (Les barbicans anciens étaient conçus pour protéger les portes de la ville.)

  3. Visiting the old barbican is a journey through history.
    (Visiter l'ancien barbican est un voyage à travers l'histoire.)

  4. The enemy's progress was halted at the barbican.
    (La progression de l'ennemi a été arrêtée au barbican.)

  5. The tour guide explained the function of the barbican.
    (Le guide touristique a expliqué la fonction du barbican.)

  6. Barbicans were often equipped with arrow slits.
    (Les barbicans étaient souvent équipés de meurtrières.)

  7. The barbican provided an excellent vantage point.
    (Le barbican offrait un excellent point de vue.)

  8. The castle's barbican was restored to its former glory.
    (Le barbican du château a été restauré dans toute sa splendeur.)

  9. Many fortresses featured a strong barbican as the first line of defense.
    (De nombreuses forteresses comportaient un solide barbican comme première ligne de défense.)

  10. The architect studied the design of medieval barbicans.
    (L'architecte a étudié la conception des barbicans médiévaux.)

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "barbican" in English

Synonyms: bastion, fortification, stronghold, fortress, outpost, bulwark.

Antonyms: vulnerability, weakness, insecurity.

Similar Words: gatehouse, turret, bastille, watchtower, redoubt.

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "barbican" in French

Synonyms: bastion, fortification.

Antonyms: -.

Similar Words: échauguette, redoute.

Disclaimer: These examples may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Translate.com, or its company Translate LLC. We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to our team.

Reach the world with ease! Use human-powered translations to ensure your message is understood by all. Available in 110+ language pairs
Order human translation

Translate barbican into other languages