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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Portcullis \Port*cul"lis\, noun [OF. porte coulisse, cole["i]ce, a sliding door, fr. L. colare, colatum, to filter, to strain: cf. F. couler to glide. See {Port} a gate, and cf. {Cullis}, {Colander}.]
1. (Fort.) A grating of iron or of timbers pointed with iron, hung over the gateway of a fortress, to be let down to prevent the entrance of an enemy. ''Let the portcullis fall.'' --Sir W. Scott.
She . . . the huge portcullis high updrew. --Milton.
2. An English coin of the reign of Elizabeth, struck for the use of the East India Company; -- so called from its bearing the figure of a portcullis on the reverse.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Portcullis \Port*cul"lis\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Portcullised}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Portcullising}.] To obstruct with, or as with, a portcullis; to shut; to bar. [R.] --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
portcullis
noun: gate consisting of an iron or wooden grating that hangs in the entry to a castle or fortified town; can be lowered to prevent passage
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