1) Heavy grating of wood and metal which slid up and down, securing the entrance of a fortress or castle. [< OldFr. port = door + coulice = sliding] -
Cf. Herse
2) Her. Vertical and horizontal lines crossing each other over a *field. -
Cf. Herse
3) Her. One of the four *pursuivants of the (English) College of Arms. The other three are *Blue Mantle, *Rouge Croix, and *Rouge Dragon. He is so named for the portcullis depicted on his badge. -
Cf. Arms, College of
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.