Chateaus

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large and impressive building, often a castle or grand residence
2. An establishment for the viticulture process, typically in wine-producing regions
3. A luxurious or elegant country house, frequently associated with nobility or high social status

Etymology: "Chateaus" is the plural of "chateau," so its history is that of the singular form. The noun came into English from French, where "château" meant a castle or fortified residence, and it is ultimately descended from Latin "castellum," a diminutive of "castrum," meaning a fort or fortified place. English speakers kept the French spelling and pronunciation, which is why the word looks and sounds foreign, and the plural simply adds an "s" as in English nouns generally, though the French plural would be "châteaux."

Synonyms: castles, manors, estates