castle

¹

[kas-uhl, kah-suhl]

noun

1. a fortified, usually walled residence, as of a prince or noble in feudal times.

   Synonyms: citadel, fortress

2. the chief and strongest part of the fortifications of a medieval city.

3. a strongly fortified, permanently garrisoned stronghold.

4. a large and stately residence, especially one, with high walls and towers, that imitates the form of a medieval castle.

   Synonyms: château, palace

5. any place providing security and privacy.

   It may be small, but my home is my castle.

6. Chess.,  the rook.

verb (used with object)

castled, castling 

1. to place or enclose in or as in a castle.

2. Chess.,  to move (the king) in castling.

verb (used without object)

Chess.

castled, castling 

1. to move the king two squares horizontally and bring the appropriate rook to the square the king has passed over.

2. (of the king) to be moved in this manner.

Castle

²

[kas-uhl, kah-suhl]

noun

1. Irene (Foote), 1893–1969, born in the U.S., and her husband and partner Vernon (Vernon Castle Blythe ), 1887–1918, born in England, U.S. ballroom dancers.

castle

/ ˈkɑːsəl /

noun

1. a fortified building or set of buildings, usually permanently garrisoned, as in medieval Europe

2. any fortified place or structure

3. a large magnificent house, esp when the present or former home of a nobleman or prince

4. the citadel and strongest part of the fortifications of a medieval town

5. chess another name for rook 2

verb

1. chess to move (the king) two squares laterally on the first rank and place the nearest rook on the square passed over by the king, either towards the king's side ( castling short ) or the queen's side ( castling long )

Other Word Forms

• castlelike adjective
• uncastled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of castle¹

before 1000; Middle English, Old English castel < Latin castellum castellum

Word History and Origins

Origin of castle¹

C11: from Latin castellum, diminutive of castrum fort

Example Sentences

And I thought, “Oh my God, I have a castle in ‘Ysilandia.’

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In this particular tale, the hero almost captures the castle only to be stymied by, some locals say, a self-dealing municipal administration.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

You're aware that it's just you in a very old, scary castle.

Read more on BBC

Perhaps with that in mind, the castle last fall added “Art Under the Moonlight” tours, which continue this autumn on select Friday and Saturday nights through Nov. 16.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The general exception fell under the so-called castle doctrine: A resident could legally kill a home intruder who posed a serious threat without retreating.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal