A castle sitting on a motte may be surrounded by a moat. Although the terms refer to different topographical features, they sound similar because both come from the Old French word “mote,” meaning “mound.” The “grove of trees” usage of “motte,” however, is primarily used in the American Southwest and has Spanish influences. Motte-and-bailey castles were common in 10th-century England. These structures featured a keep (a tower) constructed from wood or stone, sitting atop an artificial hill (the motte) and accompanied by a walled courtyard (the bailey). All of this was then surrounded by a palisade (a high fence of stakes) and a protective ditch (the moat).