moat
MOHT
/moʊt/
A deep, broad ditch, often filled with water, dug around a castle, fort, or town to prevent attack; figuratively, a competitive barrier protecting a business.
Can be wet or dry ('dry moat'); in modern business finance, an 'economic moat' refers to a company's sustainable competitive advantage.
The story behind the word. From Old French 'mote' (mound, earthwork). Originally, 'mote' referred to the raised earthen hill (motte) on which a castle stood. Over time, the meaning shifted from the raised mound created by digging to the excavated ditch left surrounding it!
Word relationships
- trench: A trench is a long ditch used for infantry shelter in modern warfare, whereas a moat is a wider perimeter ditch built around a fort.
- ditch: A general term for an excavation in the ground.
- bridge: A structure enabling crossing over a barrier.
Commonly confused with
- mote: Mote is a tiny speck (e.g. 'a mote of dust'); moat is a deep defensive trench around a castle.
Word family
- moated (adjective): Surrounded by a moat.
Collocations
- dry moat
- water-filled moat
- economic moat
- cross the moat
Example sentences
- "The drawbridge was raised across the wide moat as night fell over the castle grounds." Medieval defensive castle architecture
- "In business, I look for economic castles protected by unbreachable moats." Warren Buffett's investment philosophy (Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Letter)
Memory hook
MOAT is filled with WATER floating a BOAT. Deep ditch surrounding castle walls.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'mote' (a tiny speck of dust).
Fun facts
- Warren Buffett popularized the term 'economic moat' in 1999 to describe a corporation's protection against market competitors.
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