Castillo
/kasˈtiʝo/noun
A Spanish word meaning “castle,” also used as a Spanish surname and place name.
Did you know?Castillo descends from Latin castellum, originally a small fortified military position, the same root that gave English castle and French château.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
castrum
“A fortified military camp or stronghold”
Late Latin
Latin
castellum
“A small fort or fortified place; the diminutive of castrum”
Early Romance
Romance
castellu
“A small fortified settlement or castle”
Medieval Spanish
Old Spanish
castiello
“Castle or fortified residence”
15th–16th Century
Spanish
castillo
“Castle, fortress, or fortified building”
Modern English
English
Castillo
“A Spanish loanword meaning “castle,” and a widely used Hispanic surname”
Explore more surprising origins