1. A platform or mound of earth within a fort from which guns are fired over the parapet: When playing with his building blocks, little Benny built the fortification, and had to find the little soldiers for shooting over the barbette. 2. An armored protective cylinder around a revolving gun turret on a warship: A barbette is an armored structure securing a gun turret on a warship
3. Etymology: from French, a diminutive of barbe, "beard".