The adjective ‘coulant’ is attested in several French dictionaries, almost exclusively qualifying the substantive ‘porte’. The Aglo-Norman word is probably a corruption of portecoulans, also found in Middle English as
port collens n..
s.
1archit.mil.portcullis, strong barrier of wooden or iron bars that can be lowered to block a gateway:
(
1312
)the tower on the bridge is about to fall ensemblement ové la porte colne(l. colen?)327