Chateau
/ʃæˈtoʊ/noun
A large country house or castle, especially in France.
Did you know?Château comes through French from Latin castellum, and its deeper root is the same one behind words tied to fortresses and fortified power across Europe.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kes-
“to cut”
Latin
Latin
castrum
“a fortified place or military camp”
Late Latin
Latin
castellum
“a small fort or castle”
Old French
Old French
chastel
“castle, stronghold”
Modern French
French
château
“castle, manor house”
Modern English
English
chateau
“a large country house or castle, especially in France”