Definition of portcullis

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port·cul·lis    (pôrt-kls, prt-) KEY 

NOUN:

A grating of iron or wooden bars or slats, suspended in the gateway of a fortified place and lowered to block passage.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English port-colice, from Old French porte coleice, sliding gate : porte, gate (from Latin porta; see per-² in Indo-European roots) + coleice, feminine of coleis, sliding (from Vulgar Latin *cltcius, from Latin cltus, past participle of clre, to filter, strain, from clum, sieve)