<sod>In the [[Roman Empire]], the [[Latin]] word '''castra'''<ref>A nominative plural noun of neuter gender. According to Lewis & Short, dictionary item linked in External links, General, either the singular or plural was used, castra with a possible meaning of "tents."</ref> (singular '''castrum''') were buildings or plots of land reserved for or constructed for use as a military defensive position. This term appears in three [[Italic languages]]: [[Oscan language|Oscan]], [[Umbrian language|Umbrian]] and Latin.<ref>According to [[Julius Pokorny]], ''Indogermanisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch'', p. 586 under ''kes''- (palatal "k"), Oscan ''castrous'' ([[genitive case]]) and Umbrian ''castruo'', ''kastruvuf'' ([[nominative case]]) have the same original meaning as ''castrum'', which was an estate, or tract of land. Not enough is known of Oscan and Umbrian culture to understand whether the [[word]] was a military reservation in their cultures, allowing the possibility that the Romans took their military practices partially or wholly from elsewhere or developed them, or some combination.</ref> In classical Latin the word ''castra'' means "great legionary encampment" and included "marching", "temporary" and "fortified permanent" ones, while the diminutive form '''''castellum''''' was used for the smaller forts, which were usually, but not always, occupied by the auxiliary units and used as logistic bases for the legions, as explained by [[Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus]].<ref>See Vegiteas <eod>
<sod>In the [[Roman Empire]], the [[Latin]] word '''castra'''<ref>A nominative plural noun of neuter gender. According to Lewis & Short, dictionary item linked in External links, General, either the singular or plural was used, castra with a possible meaning of "tents."</ref> (singular '''castrum''') were buildings or plots of land reserved for or constructed for use as a military defensive position. This term appears in three [[Italic languages]]: [[Oscan language|Oscan]], [[Umbrian language|Umbrian]] and Latin.<ref>According to [[Julius Pokorny]], ''Indogermanisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch'', p. 586 under ''kes''- (palatal "k"), Oscan ''castrous'' ([[genitive case]]) and Umbrian ''castruo'', ''kastruvuf'' ([[nominative case]]) have the same original meaning as ''castrum'', which was an estate, or tract of land. Not enough is known of Oscan and Umbrian culture to understand whether the [[word]] was a military reservation in their cultures, allowing the possibility that the Romans took their military practices partially or wholly from elsewhere or developed them, or some combination.</ref> In classical Latin the word ''castra'' means "great legionary encampment" and included "marching", "temporary" and "fortified permanent" ones, while the diminutive form '''''castellum''''' was used for the smaller forts, which were usually, but not always, occupied by the auxiliary units and used as logistic bases for the legions, as explained by [[Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus]].<ref>See Vegetius, ''Epitoma rei militaris'', 3.8.</ref> A generic term is '''''praesidium''''' ("guard post or garrison"). The terms '''''[[Towns of ancient Greece#Military settlements|stratopedon]]''''' ("army camp") and '''''[[Towns of ancient Greece#Military settlements|phrourion]]''''' ("[[fortification]]") were used by [[Greek language]] authors to translate ''castra'' and ''castellum'', respectively.<eod>