Castle Moat

Moat

A moat is a deep, broad ditch dug around a castle, fortification, building or garrisoned town, either dry or filled with water, historically to provide the site with a preliminary line of defence, particularly against siege engines. Moats typically deny all direct land access except at a few narrow locations traversed by drawbridges, bridges or causeways, into which a siege will be funneled and thus easier to defend against.

Castle

A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars usually consider a castle to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble. This is distinct from a mansion, palace, and villa, whose main purpose was exclusively for pleasance and are not primarily fortresses but may be fortified. Use of the term has varied over time and, sometimes, has also been applied to structures such as hill forts and 19th- and 20th-century homes built to resemble castles. Over the Middle Ages, when genuine castles were built, they took on a great many forms with many different features, although some, such as curtain walls, arrowslits, and portcullises, were commonplace.

castle

Noun

1. A large residential building or compound that is fortified and contains many defences; in previous ages often inhabited by a nobleman or king. Also, a house or mansion with some of the architectural features of medieval castles.
2. An instance of castling.

Verb

1. To house or keep in a castle.
2. To protect or separate in a similar way.

moat

Noun

1. A deep, wide defensive ditch, normally filled with water, surrounding a fortified habitation.
2. A characteristic of a business that enhances its resilience against competitive pressures, arising from the inherent nature of its products, services, brand, or other structural advantages.

Verb

1. To surround with a moat.