The word moot is an archaic term meaning "argue, debate, discuss." In early English history, a moot was a meeting to discuss local affairs. Moot comes from the Old English gemot, meaning "meeting."
I saw this trailer at the movies and thought, "hey, I know this story." I've started a list of re-reads for the year. I'm adding this one.
The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff was first published in 1954.