crenel

1 of 2

noun

cren·el

ˈkrenᵊl

variants or less commonly crenelle

krə̇ˈnel

plural -s

: one of the embrasures alternating with merlons in a battlement

crenel

2 of 2

transitive verb

creneled or crenelled; creneled or crenelled; creneling or crenelling

ˈkren(ᵊ)liŋ

; crenels

: crenellate

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French crenel, from Old French, diminutive of cren notch, from crener to notch, from Medieval Latin crenare, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin crinare to split, perhaps of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish criathar sieve; akin to Greek krinein to separate

Transitive verb

French créneler, from Old French creneler, from crenel