| castle | (n) a large building formerly occupied by a ruler and fortified against attack |
| castle | (n) (chess) the piece that can move any number of unoccupied squares in a direction parallel to the sides of the chessboard, Syn. rook |
| castle | (n) interchanging the positions of the king and a rook, Syn. castling |
| castle | (v) move the king two squares toward a rook and in the same move the rook to the square next past the king |
| Castle | n. [ AS. castel, fr. L. castellum, dim. of castrum a fortified place, castle. ] The house of every one is to him castle and fortress, as well for his defense againts injury and violence, as for his repose. Coke. [ 1913 Webster ] Our castle's strength ☞ Originally the mediæval castle was a single strong tower or keep, with a palisaded inclosure around it and inferior buidings, such as stables and the like, and surrounded by a moat; then such a keep or donjon, with courtyards or baileys and accessory buildings of greater elaboration a great hall and a chapel, all surrounded by defensive walls and a moat, with a drawbridge, etc. Afterwards the name was retained by large dwellings that had formerly been fortresses, or by those which replaced ancient fortresses. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Castle | v. i. |
| Castlebuilder | n. Fig.: one who builds castles in the air or forms visionary schemes. -- |
| Castled | a. Having a castle or castles; supporting a castle; |
| Castle-guard | n. |
| Castlery | n. [ Cf. OF. castelerie. See Castle. ] The government of a castle. Blount. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Castlet | n. A small castle. Leland. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Castleward | n. Same as Castleguard. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Castling | n. That which is cast or brought forth prematurely; an abortion. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Castling | n. (Chess) A compound move of the king and castle. See Castle, v. i. [ 1913 Webster ] |