motte
/mɒt/ · mot·te
noun
- A raised earth mound, often topped with a wooden or stone structure and surrounded with a ditch. The medieval castle featured a large motte surrounded by a moat.
noun
- A small hill or mound, especially one formed by glacial activity. The motte rose above the surrounding landscape, a testament to the region's geological history.
Did you know? The motte-and-bailey castle design, characterized by a raised earth mound and a surrounding ditch, was a common feature of medieval European fortifications.