Meaning
A deep, wide defensive ditch, normally filled with water, surrounding a fortified habitation.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
From Middle English mote, from Old French mote (“mound, embankment”); compared also to Old French motte (“hillock, lump, clod, turf”), from Medieval Latin mota (“a mound, hill”), of Germanic origin, perhaps via Frankish *mot, *motta (“mud, peat, bog, turf”), from Proto-Germanic *mutô, *mudraz, *muþraz (“dirt, filth, mud, swamp”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)mut- (“dark, dirty”). Cognate with Alemannic German Mott, Mutte (“peat, turf”), Bavarian Mott (“peat, turf”), dialectal Dutch mot (“dust, fine sand”), Saterland Frisian mut (“grit, litter, humus”), Swedish muta (“to drizzle”), Old English mot (“speck, particle”). More at mote, mud, smut. As term for a business strategy, popularized by American investor Warren Buffett.
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 27 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-08-27TAMORWY
- 2026-07-31MAILOPT
- 2026-07-13MACILOT
- 2026-04-02OATMINY
- 2026-03-10MARNCOT
- 2026-02-21MACINOT
- 2025-12-31TUAOFCM
- 2025-07-25MATNIOV
- 2025-06-19OVATMIR
- 2025-06-01MAWORTY
- 2024-12-12OATMINZ
- 2024-11-15MAELOPT
+15 earlier appearances in the archive.