noun

moat

moat

The castle was surrounded by a deep moat.

The castle was surrounded by a deep moat.

They lowered the drawbridge over the moat.

They lowered the drawbridge over the moat.

((a/the)) moat a deep, wide ditch surrounding a castle The castle was surrounded by a deep moat.

Synonyms: ditch, trench, channel

From Old French 'mote' meaning 'mound, embankment'. The meaning shifted from the mound to the ditch around it.

Imagine a 'boat' floating in the 'moat' around a castle. The words sound similar.

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