Castle
Castle , noun
[Anglo-Saxon castel, from Latin castellum, dim. of castrum a fortified place, castle.]
1.
A fortified residence, especially that of a prince or nobleman; a fortress.
The house of every one is to him castle and fortress, as well for his defense againts injury and violence, as for his repose.
Our castle's strength
Will laugh a siege to scorn.
Originally the mediaval castle was a single strong tower or keep, with a palisaded inclosure around it and inferior buidings, such as stables and the like, and surrounded by a moat; then such a keep or donjon, with courtyards or baileys and accessory buildings of greater elaboration a great hall and a chapel, all surrounded by defensive walls and a moat, with a drawbridge, etc. Afterwards the name was retained by large dwellings that had formerly been fortresses, or by those which replaced ancient fortresses.
2.
Any strong, imposing, and stately mansion.
3.
A small tower, as on a ship, or an elephant's back.
4.
A piece, made to represent a castle, used in the game of chess; a rook.
Collocations (1)
Castle in the air , a visionary project; a baseless scheme; an air castle; -- sometimes called a castle in Spain (F. Château en Espagne).
Castle , intransitive verb
(Chess) To move the castle to the square next to king, and then the king around the castle to the square next beyond it, for the purpose of covering the king.