u/AnnieOrlando

Inselberg

I found this on line:

An inselberg is an isolated hill or mountain rising abruptly from a flat plain. It looks like a rocky island floating in a sea of land.

The word comes from German: Insel (island) + Berg (mountain)

They’re usually made of hard rock that resists erosion. Over time, the surrounding softer land wears away, leaving the “island” behind. A famous example is Uluru (Ayers Rock) located in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Keep –
After the Norman Conquest, many castles in England were built with a massive central tower. The French-speaking Normans called this structure a donjon (which later gave us “dungeon,” though meanings drifted apart).
English speakers used “keep” to describe that central fortified tower because it:
kept the lord and valuables safe
kept defenders secure during attack
was the last place you’d retreat to if everything else fell

Bailey –
In a medieval castle, the bailey was the courtyard enclosed by defensive walls. It wasn’t just empty space. It was the castle’s working heart:
stables
workshops
kitchens
storage
sometimes even gardens

Crenellation –
The alternating pattern of raised blocks and gaps along the top of a castle wall. Those blocks are merlons; the gaps are crenels or embrasures. Together they form the familiar saw-tooth skyline that let defenders shoot while staying mostly covered.

Crenellations turned a flat wall into a defensive rhythm:
Merlons shielded archers
Crenels gave lines of fire
The pattern allowed visibility, airflow, and protection in one elegant design

Portcullis –
A portcullis is a heavy grille of wood and iron that slides vertically in grooves at a castle entrance. It could drop in a heartbeat:
Seal the gateway instantly
Trap intruders in the choke point
Allow sight and air even when shut

Parapet –
The low protective wall along the edge of a roof, wall-walk, or battlement. It’s the defender’s companion:
high enough to protect the body
low enough to see and strike over
often topped with crenellations for extra cover

Trebuchet –
A siege engine that uses a long pivoting beam and a heavy counterweight to fling stones in a graceful, terrifying arc. Its job was to:
hurl projectiles over walls
break defenses by impact
unsettle anyone within range

Rampart –
A broad defensive wall or earthen bank, often topped with a walkway and parapet. It’s not just a vertical barrier, but a mass of protection:
thick enough to absorb impact
high enough to command a view
wide enough to carry defenders along its spine

Online I found this information:

Momme (often written as “mm”) is a unit used to measure the weight and density of silk fabric.

What it means

It tells you how heavy and thick the silk is

Technically, it’s the weight (in pounds) of a piece of silk measuring 45 inches by 100 yards.

Why it matters

Higher momme = heavier, denser, and usually more luxurious silk

Lower momme = lighter, thinner, and more delicate

Typical ranges

10–16 momme → very light (sheer scarves, delicate fabrics)

19–22 momme → standard luxury (pillowcases, clothing)

25+ momme → thick, durable, high-end silk

The word momme comes from Japanese.

It derives from Japanese language 匁 (monme), a traditional unit of weight used in Japan.

Monme itself was part of a broader historical system tied to the Japanese monetary system, where weight units were used to measure precious metals like silver.