Castellum Explained
A castellum[1] in Latin is usually:
- a small Roman fortlet or tower,[2] a diminutive of Latin: [[castra|castrum]] ('military camp'), often used as a watchtower or signal station like on Hadrian's Wall. It is distinct from a Latin: [[burgus]], which is a later Latin term that was used particularly in the Germanic provinces.
- a distribution, header and settling tank in a Roman aqueduct or castellum aquae.
It is the source of the English word "castle".
Notes and References
- Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary
- C. Julius Caesar, Gallic War; 2,30