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ce, especially that of a prince or nobleman; a fortress. The house of every one is to him castle and fortress, as well for his defense againts injury and violence, as for his repose. Coke. Our castle's strength Will laugh a siege to scorn. Shak.

The guard or defense of a castle.

Fig.: one who builds castles in the air or forms visionary schemes. -- Cas"tle*build`ing, n.

Having a castle or castles; supporting a castle; as, a castled height or crag.

The government of a castle. Blount.

A small castle. Leland.

Same as Castleguard.

A short upper deck forward, formerly raised like a castle, to command an enemy's decks.

To take a castle from; to turn out of a castle.

Erected in the air; having no solid foundation; chimerical; as, an air-built castle.

A commander of a castle or fortress among the Spaniards, Portuguese, and Moors.

been of long duration; of long standing; of great age; as, an ancient forest; an ancient castle. "Our ancient bickerings." Shak. Remove not the ancient landmarks, which thy fathers have set. Prov. xxii. 28. An ancient man, strangely habited, asked for quarters. Scott.

An outwork of a strong, high wall, with turrets, in front gateway (as of an old castle), for defending the entrance.

Made in imitation of antiquity; as, the antique style of Thomson's "Castle of Indolence."

d, or by which are marched in line or column. (b) An advantageous defensive support, as a castle, morass, wood, declivity, etc.

To besiege. [Obs.] "Assieged castles." Spenser.

A post of security or defense. [Poetic] Into the castle's tower, The only Aventine that now is left him. Beau. & Fl.

Expressive of awe or terror. An awesome glance up at the auld castle. Sir W. Scott.

The outer wall of a feudal castle. Hence: The space inclosed by it; the outer court. Holinshed.

The outer wall of a feudal castle. [Obs.]