Castile
/kæˈstiːl/noun
A historical region and former kingdom of central Spain.
Did you know?The name arose from the dense chain of frontier fortresses built during medieval Christian expansion against Muslim-ruled territories in Iberia.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
castellum
“Fortified place, stronghold, or small fortress; literally a diminutive of castrum, ‘fort.’”
Late Latin
Latin
Castella
“Castles or fortified settlements; the plural form that came to designate the region.”
Early Medieval Period
Vulgar Latin
*Castella
“A regional name associated with territory marked by numerous fortresses.”
10th–12th Century
Old Spanish
Castiella
“Castile, the frontier county and developing political territory in northern-central Iberia.”
Modern English
English
Castile
“The historical kingdom and region of central Spain.”