noun
- Plural of atalaya; watchtowers or lookout towers, especially those built in Spain and North Africa for defense or surveillance.
Usage: historical; chiefly used in Spanish and Portuguese contexts
Examples
- The atalayas dotted the coastline, allowing guards to spot approaching ships.
- Medieval atalayas served as communication points between distant fortifications.
- Historians studied the ruins of ancient atalayas to understand regional defense strategies.
- The atalayas were strategically positioned on hilltops throughout the region.