castle-guard

noun

1

: a feudal knight service of the tenant to defend the lord's castle

also : the tenure of such service

2

: a tax or charge now mostly fallen into desuetude that was originally imposed in lieu of castle-guard

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!