n.
Pronunciation: ' m ō t
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English mote, from Anglo-French mote, motte mound, moat
Date: 14th century
1 : a deep and wide trench around the rampart of a fortified place (as a castle) that is usually filled with water
2 : a channel resembling a moat (as about a seamount or for confinement of animals in a zoo)
– moat · ed \ ' m ō -t ə d \ adjective
– moat · like \ - ˌ l ī k \ adjective
moat