A portcullis is a heavy metal or wooden gate with pointed spikes at the bottom that can be raised or lowered quickly to protect the entrance of a castle or fortress. Picture a massive grid of metal bars hanging above a castle doorway, ready to slam down if enemies approach. The pointy bottom spikes could wedge into holes in the ground, making the gate nearly impossible to lift or break through from the outside.

Medieval castles often had multiple layers of defense: first the moat, then the drawbridge, then the portcullis dropping down in a grooved track carved into the stone walls. Guards would control the portcullis using chains and a winch system, cranking it up during peaceful times and dropping it instantly when danger threatened.

You'll see portcullises in many medieval castles still standing today in Europe, and they remain a powerful symbol of castle defenses. When something is described as having a portcullis, it means it has a strong, protective barrier that can open and close to control who gets in.