n.
Pronunciation: ' ka-s ə l
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 house
2 : a retreat safe against intrusion or invasion
3 : 3 ROOK
castle 1a: 1 fortified approach, 2 moat, 3 drawbridge, 4 ward, 5 angle tower, 6 donjon or keep, 7 chapel, 8 gallery