castellum

[ ka-stel-uhm ]

noun

, Archaeology.

, plural cas·tel·li [ka-, stel, -ahy].

1. a small isolated fortress, or one of a series of such fortresses, of the ancient Romans.

Word History and Origins

Origin of castellum¹

< Latin: fortified settlement, fortress < *casterlom < *castṛlom < *castrelom, equivalent to castr ( a ) (neuter plural) fortified camp + *-elom diminutive suffix; -ule, -elle

Example Sentences

On a jutting crag of rock, in plain view from the town below, is an ancient Roman castellum.

From Project Gutenberg

Every castle that they took was burned and destroyed, like Sir Ingelric's castellum at Speen.

From Project Gutenberg

In the north-east s before t is still retained—Walloon chestai (chteau, castellum), fiess (fte).

From Project Gutenberg

Arrayed in the closest order, they presented to an advancing enemy the aspect of a living rampart ('quasi castellum').

From Project Gutenberg

Had he not stumbled at the outset over that 'quasi castellum', he might never have erected that 'ingenious but baseless fabric'.

From Project Gutenberg