moat

Where does the word "moat" come from? It comes from Old French mota, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).

Moat’s story begins in Old French: mota meant “mound, embankment.” Possibly of Gaulish origin; referred to a mound of earth, as in 'motte-and-bailey' castles. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as mote. Shifted from the mound to the ditch dug out to raise it. It reached English by 1500s as moat. Fixed on the water-filled ditch surrounding a castle. Today, moat means a deep, wide ditch filled with water around a castle.

1. Stage 1 · Old French · medieval mota "mound, embankment", possibly of Gaulish origin; referred to a mound of earth, as in 'motte-and-bailey' castles.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1300s mote "mound; ditch", shifted from the mound to the ditch dug out to raise it.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s moat "defensive water-filled ditch", fixed on the water-filled ditch surrounding a castle.