casemate

noun

case·​mate ˈkās-ˌmāt How to pronounce casemate (audio)
: a fortified position or chamber or an armored enclosure on a warship from which guns are fired through embrasures

Examples of casemate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As part of the new offering, the castle’s northern defenses will be open to the public, including its medieval and Georgian (as in George III) underground tunnels, as well as its Georgian casemates (a type of armored enclosure). Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 May 2024 What to Do: The Bock casemates are a series of tunnels, running beneath the ruins of the old city fortifications, that leads out to large, cliff-side openings that offer not only some of the best panoramic views in Luxembourg but also a fascinating look into the city's history. Chris Heasman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2023 Taking shelter in a tiny casemate built in medieval times and depending on food handouts from volunteers and charities is far from his dream. Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Old Italian casamatta

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of casemate was in 1550

Dictionary Entries Near casemate

Cite this Entry

“Casemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/casemate. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on casemate

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!