castle
/ˈkæsəl/ · cast·le
noun
- A large fortified building, often the residence of a noble or monarch, equipped with defensive structures. The medieval castle perched on the hill dominated the surrounding countryside.
- An instance of the chess move castling, where the king and rook are moved simultaneously. White chose to castle kingside early to safeguard the king.
- A rook, the chess piece shaped like a castle tower. She captured the opponent’s castle with her bishop.
verb
- To house or keep someone within a castle. The king castled his court in the newly renovated keep.
- To protect or separate in a manner reminiscent of a castle’s defenses. The garden was castled by a high stone wall.
- To construct a building in the form of a castle or add battlements to an existing structure. The architect castled the manor with crenellated towers.
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Antonyms
Did you know? Although commonly called a “castle” in chess, the piece is technically a rook; the term “castling” was coined in the 19th century to describe the king‑rook maneuver.