drawbridge

/ˌdrɔˈbrɪdʒ/

/ˈdrɔbrɪdʒ/

Other forms: drawbridges

In olden times, if you lived in a castle, you might have a drawbridge that could be raised and lowered depending on whether or not you wanted to let people cross your moat.

A drawbridge gets its name from the fact that it could be "drawn up," or raised, to keep intruders or unwanted visitors away from a tower or castle. The typical medieval drawbridge spanned a deep, wide moat (a trench filled with water). This moveable wooden bridge was usually attached to a guarded gatehouse and could be raised and lowered fairly easily with ropes or chains.

Definitions of drawbridge

1. noun

   a bridge that can be raised to block passage or to allow boats or ships to pass beneath it
   synonyms: lift bridge

   type of:

   bridge, span

   a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.