moat

[ moht ]

noun

1. a deep, wide trench, usually filled with water, surrounding the rampart of a fortified place, such as a town or a castle.
2. any trench, such as one used for confining animals in a zoo.
3. a competitive advantage a business has in its field:

   The company's moat was reduced when the patent on the devices they sold expired.

moat

/ məʊt /

noun

1. a wide water-filled ditch surrounding a fortified place, such as a castle

verb

1. tr to surround with or as if with a moat

   a moated grange

Word History and Origins

Origin of moat¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English mote, from Old French: “clod, mound,” of obscure origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of moat¹

C14: from Old French motte mound

Example Sentences

“It has been seventeen years since The Black Parade was sent to the MOAT,” the band wrote Tuesday in a tour announcement on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times

A vast display of almost 900,000 ceramic poppies was installed in the Tower of London's moat 10 years ago.

From BBC

The local authority is one of four secured creditors who could seek more than £3.5m between them following the closure of Moat Brae in Dumfries.

From BBC

Moat Brae, where JM Barrie played as a child, was forced to close in August - about five years after opening as a children's literature centre.

From BBC

Moat Brae, where JM Barrie played as a child, was forced to close in August - about five years after its opening as a visitor centre.

From BBC

Related Words

• gully
• trench