barbican; outer defensive enclosure
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
barbican; outer semicircular or rectangular defensive enclosure built in front of a city gate
literaryA literary and architectural term for the fortified structure built outside a city gate, typically semicircular (hence 'moon city') or square, designed to trap attackers and strengthen defenses. Commonly called 瓮城 in modern usage.
Zhè这
zuò座
míng明
dài代
gǔ古
chéng城
de的
yuè月
chéng城
bǎo保
cún存
wán完
hǎo好
。
The barbican of this Ming Dynasty ancient city is well preserved.
Yuè月
chéng城
shì是
chéng城
mén门
fáng防
yù御
tǐ体
xì系
de的
zhòng重
yào要
zǔ组
chéng成
bù部
fèn分
。
The barbican is an important component of the city gate defense system.
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Dí敌
jūn军
bèi被
kùn困
zài在
yuè月
chéng城
zhī之
zhōng中
，
jìn进
tuì退
liǎng两
nán难
。
The enemy troops were trapped inside the barbican, unable to advance or retreat.