A water-filled pit that surrounds a castle for defensive purposes.

Very effective in keeping people out since it was also usually the method of draining sewerage from the castle.

Moat (?), n. [OF. mote hill, dike, bank, F. motte clod, turf: cf. Sp. & Pg. mota bank or mound of earth, It. motta clod, LL. mota, motta, a hill on which a fort is built, an eminence, a dike, Prov. G. mott bog earth heaped up; or perh. F. motte, and OF. mote, are from a LL. p.p. of L. movere to move (see Move). The name of moat, properly meaning, bank or mound, was transferred to the ditch adjoining: cf. F. dike and ditch.] Fort.

A deep trench around the rampart of a castle or other fortified place, sometimes filled with water; a ditch.

 

© Webster 1913.


Moat, v. t.

To surround with a moat.

Dryden.

 

© Webster 1913.

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