belfroy

military technology

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "belfry" has two primary meanings. Historically, it referred to a wooden tower used in medieval sieges to attack fortifications. This military application is the origin of the word, derived from Old French terms for such siege towers.12

In its more common modern usage, a belfry is a tower or the section of a tower where bells are housed. This association with bells is a later development, leading to the word's current meaning. Belfries are a notable feature in Gothic architecture, particularly in Belgium.12

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military technology
Siege weapons
…wheeled wooden siege towers, called belfroys. These were fitted with drawbridges, which could be dropped onto the parapet, and with protected firing positions from which the defending parapets could be swept by arrow fire. Constructing one of these towers and moving it forward against an active defense was a considerable…
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…wheeled wooden siege towers, called belfroys. These were fitted with drawbridges, which could be dropped onto the parapet, and with protected firing positions from which the defending parapets could be swept by arrow fire. Constructing one of these towers and moving it forward against an active defense was a considerable…
Read More