Main Entry:

¹cas·tle

Pronunciation:

\ˈka-səl\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English castel, from Old English, from Old French & Latin; Old French dialect (Norman-Picard) castel, from Latin castellum fortress, diminutive of castrum fortified place; perhaps akin to Latin castrare to castrate

Date:

before 12th century

1 a: a large fortified building or set of buildings b: a massive or imposing house2: a retreat safe against intrusion or invasion3: ³rook

[castle illustration]