1. Plural of motte; artificial mounds that formed the defensive core of medieval castles, typically topped with a wooden or stone fortification.
Usage: historical; archaeology

Examples

• The Norman invaders built mottes and baileys throughout England after 1066.
• Archaeologists excavated the mottes to study medieval fortification techniques.
• Many mottes in the countryside are now covered with grass and trees.
• The castle's defense relied on the height of its motte overlooking the surrounding land.
• Historians can still identify dozens of mottes across the region from aerial surveys.