casemate

English

Etymology

From French casemate, from Italian casamatta. Further origin unclear, could be a compound casa (house) + matta (mat (of straw), roof made of such material), or borrowed from Greek χάσματα (chásmata) the plural of χάσμα (chásma, gap), presumably referring to the loopholes for shooting from.[1]

Noun

casemate (plural casemates)

  1. (military) A bombproof chamber, usually of masonry, in which cannon may be placed, to be fired through embrasures; or one capable of being used as a magazine, or for quartering troops.
  2. (architecture) A hollow molding, chiefly in cornices.

Translations

References

  1. Klein, Dr. Ernest, A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language, Amsterdam: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co., 1971, page=245

Further reading

Anagrams

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian casamatta.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kaz.mat/
  • (file)

Noun

casemate f (plural casemates)

  1. pillbox, blockhouse

Further reading

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