machicolate

First recorded in 1765–75; from Medieval Latin machecoll(um), a Latinization of unattested Middle French machecol literally, “(it) breaks (the) neck” (from the use of such openings to drop projectiles on an ascending attacker; mache, 3rd singular present of macher “to beat, break, bruise” (apparently of expressive origin) + col “neck, collar”) + -ate¹; compare late Middle English machecollyd “machicolated”; see collar