Casemate
A casemate (or casement) is a fortified gun emplacement or armoured structure from which guns are fired. Nowadays the word bunker is used more extensively.
The origins of the word are a bit hazy. It might come from Italian (casamatta: fake house), Arabic (kasaba), Spanish (casa matar: a house where killing takes place), Greek (khasmata: pits) or again Italian (casa matte: dark house). Since casemates were also used as prisons and the lack of light added to the punishment, the last one seems to be the most correct one.
The canon or gun I am standing in front of is in the Casemates of Luxembourg (city) and it overlooks the city itself. We had to climb up a fair bit to arrive at this point, since the casemates are built in the hills overlooking the city, hence the weary look on my face.
More recent casemates are the ones that were built by the Germans overlooking the beaches of Normandy (where the allied forces landed on June 6th 1944).
For more C-words from around the world, please check out ABC Wednesday and join in the fun!
Photo taken in July 1997 in Luxembourg (the city)
Photo taken in July 1997 in Luxembourg (the city)
24 comments:
Somehow, I feel as though I've been standing in front of a canon today.
Nice choice for C today. And now I know what a Casemate is. Every girl should know that, right? Each post I visit teaches me something new it seems. Thanks for sharing your Clever and Creative post today.
I've had fun reading your blog. Discovered it when visiting Strawberry Jam Anne. Never knew casemate either so I feel I have learned something :)
An English Girl Rambles
I never heard that term before. I feel like someday one of your history lessons will win me something if I was on a game show!
I never knew the origins of that word. That's what I like about ABC Wednesday. I learn so much.
Great choice for the letter C.
Nice C choice and interesting info also.
I didn't know that casement (casemate) had such military connotations. Thank you for the interesting information.
Hope that thing isn't loaded...
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
I wouldn't have wanted to be in the town below when they decided to use one of those cannons. Ouch!
Hey, danke das sind ja tolle Informationen und ein sehr nettes Bild!
liebe Grüße
isabella
What the germans built where bunkers, they look awful in the sand along the beach ! Casa matta in Italian means litterally crazy house ! Don't you agree ? Blogging makes intelligent, you learn every day something new ;) !
Standing at the business end of any armament is risky!! I had only ever known casements as windows so this post was most informative.
Wonderful canon overlooking the city.
thank u for a very informative C :)
You look very content leaning into the gun bet it felt beautifully cool after the walk. Interesting word.
I knew about the gun placements but I had no idea what they were called! Interesting thoughts on the etymology, too.
You certainly get around to see some sights, don't you?
Interesting, a new word to learn. Seems you had a nice rest on top of gun!!
Terrific C post - you lead an exciting life - I read about the mechanical problems you had and noticed that you took it all in stride!
You look a bit too comfortable leaning on the FRONT of that canon! Interesting piece of language history. Thanks!
I thought it's just a cannon!
thank you for this informative post.
Enjoyed it.
Great choice again Mara - I learn something new here every week!
casemates maybe you can call it also jail mates lol...i wish i was there standing with you. hehe
Thanks for the visit and comment.
See you next week.
I've only known the word casement as the opening in which a window was fitted. It sounds as if it might apply well to cannons etc. too. The British built pill-boxes, cement huts with casements.
Post a Comment