Moat : | |||||||||||||
A water filled ditch which surrounded a castle, or just forming a line of defence, which was artificial or partly natural in origin. Just as donjonsignified the highest part of a motte and bailey castle and was later changed to dungeon, so moat was derived from motte or the mound to the ditch from which it was excavated. In some cases the word moat is used to refer to a dry ditch. (Fr. motte, mound). |
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