castellum
[ka-
stel
-
uh
m]
/kæˈstɛl əm/
noun
,
plural
castelli
[ka-
stel
-ahy]
/kæˈstɛl aɪ/
(
Show IPA
).
Archaeology
1.
a small isolated fortress, or one of a series of such fortresses, of the ancient Romans.
Origin
<
Latin:
fortified settlement, fortress <
*casterlom
<
*castṛlom
<
*castrelom,
equivalent to
castr
(
a
) (neuter plural) fortified camp +
*-elom
diminutive suffix; see
-ule
,
-elle