portcullis• There were moments when it felt like a portcullis downward-slammed between herself and the humancommunity.• Another one rose, like a portcullis.• Inside there was a portcullis of some darkmetal.• At each end of the tanks are portcullis gates, which are opened and closed by hydraulic rams.• The parliamentaryportcullis is featuredabove his head.• This is meant to convey a sense of security and privacy: the drawbridge is pulled up and the portcullis is dropped.• A connection was made to the stand pipe each time the portcullis end gates were raised.• The bridge was not up, the portcullis raised and the guard in the gatehouse evidently keeping warm before a fire therein.