Medieval Glossary

Sally Port

A gate or passage, by which the garrison of a fortress may make a sally or sudden attack on the besiegers. The name is applied to the postern leading from under the rampart into the ditch, but its more modern application is to a cutting through the glacis, by which a sally may be made from the covert way. When not in use, sally ports are closed by massive gates of timber and iron.

Related term(s): Sally; Siege; Garrison; Postern; Rampart; Besiege
Category: Castles and Fortifications
Added: 01.05.05
Last modified: 09.01.06
Source information: Wilhelm, Thomas. A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer. Philadelphia: L.R. Hamersly & Co., 1881. 506.

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