Alcazars

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of fortress or palace that is often grand and impressive, historically associated with Arabic architecture in Spain
2. A historical building characterized by elaborate design, often serving as a royal residence or military stronghold, especially in Moorish contexts
3. An ornate castle or fortified palace that reflects a blend of architectural styles, notably those influenced by Islamic culture in regions formerly under Moorish rule

Etymology: "Alcazars" is the plural of "alcazar," a noun for a Moorish fortified palace, most familiar from southern Spain. The singular came into English from Spanish "alcázar," which in turn came from Arabic "al-qaṣr," meaning "the castle" or "the palace," with the Arabic definite article "al-" fused onto the root "qaṣr." That Arabic root is the same one that gave Spanish and English the word "castle," through Latin "castellum." The two English words are therefore doublets: one passed through Arabic and Spanish, the other through Latin and French, so they descend from a single source by separate routes.