Casemate

Was originally a loop-holed gallery excavated in a bastion, from which the garrison could fire on an enemy who had obtained po e ion of the ditch without risk of lo to themselves. The term was afterwards applied to a bomb-proof vault in a fortre , which is designed for the protection of the garrison, without direct reference to the annoyance of the enemy. A casemated battery consists of such a vault or vaults, with openings for the guns.