Military. A movable structure having a strong roof, used to cover men advancing to the walls of a besieged town or fortress, and to protect them…

A piece of timber or stone supporting the masonry above a fireplace; = manteltree, n. 1. Obsolete.

A structure or formation resembling a snail-shell; a testudo. Obsolete.

= vinea, n.

A structure resembling a whelk-shell; a testudo. Obsolete.

See quot. 1440 and snail, n.1 Obsolete.

A military engine; see quot. 1489.

Military. A movable shelter, esp. one used to protect besieging soldiers; = mantlet, n. 2a. Also in quot. 1489: a temporary wooden bulwark. Obsolete…

A movable shelter used to protect soldiers besieging a fortified place. Cf. manta, n. 2, mantle, n. 15. Now historical.

Roman History. = vinea, n. rare.

A sort of penthouse, under which besiegers were protected as a tortoise by its shell; = testudo, n. 3.

= sense 4.

In extended use. Military. A structure which provides protection from the enemy, esp. a makeshift portable shelter formed of soldiers' shields held…

= penthouse, n. 2b.

a testudo (= target-fence n.).

A kind of protective shed or penthouse anciently used in siege-operations.

a roof for defence = Latin testudo.

Roman History. An engine of war used by besiegers, consisting of a screen or shelter, with a strong and usually fire-proof arched roof; it was…

(a) (see 6 above); (b) a house for cats; (c) slang a brothel.

= vinea, n. Obsolete. rare.

= tortoise, n. 2a 2b Obsolete.

Military History. With reference to Spain and Spanish-speaking countries: a movable shelter used to cover the approach of besieging soldiers; = ma…

A movable pent-house used in early times by besiegers to protect themselves in approaching fortifications, also called cat-house: cf. belfry, n., sow…

a structure that protects those operating a battering ram.

= sense 2.

Founding. A solid metallic mass formed within a blast furnace; esp. that formed by molten metal seeping below the hearth level and solidifying…