n. 1. A deep wide ditch, usually filled with water, typically surrounding a fortified medieval town, fortress, or castle as a protection against assault. 2. A ditch similar to one surrounding a fortification: A moat separates the animals in the zoo from the spectators. tr.v. moat·ed, moat·ing, moats To surround with or as if with a moat. [Middle English mote, mound, moat (since both mounds and moats form part of fortifications), from Old French, mound; akin to Medieval Latin mota, perhaps of Germanic origin and akin to English MUD.] |
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