castrum
Noun
Meaning
castrum (plural castra)
(historical) Among the Ancient Romans, a building or plot of land used as a military defensive position.
Examples
The other two legions in the winter-quarters of the army at castrum Moguntiacum citation were led by Varus' nephew, Lucius Nonius Asprenas and perhaps Lucius Arruntius.
In the first half of the 13th Century, a city wall was built around the area of the former castrum as well as the adjoining industrial area to the east and the churches of St. Peter and St. Urs.
Around 325-350, the unfortified settlement along the road was transformed into a fortified camp or castrum, which covered only half of the former settlement area.
The former chapel of St. Stephen inside the castrum was built on the foundation of an earlier, late-Roman building.
The word castle is derived from the Latin word castellum, which is a diminutive of the word castrum, meaning "fortified place".
Throughout the changes of time, the Roman castrum never seems to have been permanently abandoned as a military installation, which is a testimony to Roman military judgement.