castle

¹cas·tle

noun \ˈka-səl\

Definition of CASTLE

1

a : a large fortified building or set of buildings

b : a massive or imposing house

2

: a retreat safe against intrusion or invasion

3

: ³rook

Examples of CASTLE

1. Millionaires built their castles along the lake.
2. <the implacable attackers placed the castle under a prolonged siege>

Illustration of CASTLE

Origin of CASTLE

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to CASTLE

Synonyms

bastion, fort, citadel, fastness, fortification, fortress, hold, redoubt, stronghold

Related Words

battlement, breastwork, bulwark, earthwork, embattlement, parapet, rampart; bunker, dugout; blockhouse, garrison house; alcazar, casbah (also kasbah)

Rhymes with CASTLE

acyl, facile, gracile, hassle, passel, tassel, vassal, wrestle

²castle

verb

cas·tledcas·tling \ˈka-s(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of CASTLE

transitive verb

1

: to establish in a castle

2

: to move (the chess king) in castling

intransitive verb

: to move a chess king two squares toward a rook and in the same move the rook to the square next past the king

First Known Use of CASTLE

1587

Rhymes with CASTLE

hassle, tassel, vassal, wrestle

castle

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Medieval European stronghold, generally the fortified dwelling of the king or lord of the territory in which it stood. The castle developed rapidly in western Europe from the 9th century. In form it was somewhat sprawling compared to later fortified buildings. The castle's enceinte (outer wall) was surrounded by one or more moats, which were crossed by drawbridges that could be raised from the inner side. The gateway itself was heavily protected and often defended by a barbican, or watchtower. One or more baileys, or walled courtyards, surrounded the donjon. The age of the medieval castle came to an end with the increasing use of firearms in the 15th–16th centuries.