Castrametation

/ˌkæs.trə.mi.ˈteɪ.ʃən/ noun

Definition

The art or practice of laying out and constructing a military camp, especially the Roman method of designing temporary fortified camps.

Etymology

From Latin 'castra' (camps) plus 'metari' (to measure), literally meaning 'the measuring out of camps'—a technical term for the skilled engineering of military encampments.

Kelly Says

Roman officers spent years learning castrametation because a poorly planned camp could lead to disaster—archaeologists can still read the original layouts because Romans measured camps with such mathematical precision.

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