1. a platform or mound of earth from which guns are fired over a parapet rather than through embrasures
Usage: military; fortification
2. an armored structure on a warship that protects the rotating mechanism of a gun turret
Usage: naval; military

Examples

• The coastal fort’s cannons were mounted on a barbette overlooking the harbor.
• Artillery crews positioned their guns on the barbette for maximum range.
• The battleship’s main guns were protected by heavily armored barbettes.
• Engineers constructed a barbette to elevate the defensive weapons.
• The barbette allowed the gunners to fire over the fortress walls.
• Naval architects designed the barbette to withstand enemy bombardment.