French Conversation · Level 59
74 words
French word
pont-levis
Pronunciation
IPA/pɔ̃ləvi/
Meaning
- masculine noundrawbridge
Example
Nous avons traversé le pont-levis du château hier.
We crossed the castle's drawbridge yesterday.
More examples
Les touristes prennent des photos du pont-levis devant le château.
The tourists take photos of the drawbridge in front of the castle.
Core concept
A raised bridge deck that opens a route or seals off an entrance.
Similar words
pont: A fixed crossing built over a river or valley.
Definition in French
Un pont-levis est un pont dont la partie mobile peut se soulever pour laisser passer des bateaux ou empêcher l'accès.
Word origin
French formed pont-levis from pont, "bridge," and levis, an Old French form linked to lever and Latin levare, "to raise."
Usage tips
- In pont-levis, the final s of levis is silent, so the second part sounds like "levi," not like the noun vis.
Opposites
- pont fixefixed bridgenoun