stronghold
UK /ˈstɹɒŋhəʊld/ · US /ˈstɹɔŋˌhoʊld/ noun
Forms strongholds
- noun A place built to withstand attack; a fortress.
- noun (figuratively) A place of domination by, or refuge or survival of, a particular group or idea. “the last stronghold of the Cornish language”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English stranghalde, strong-hold, strong-holde, from strong (“having physical strength, sturdy, strong; built to withstand assaults, fortified”) (from Old English strang, strong (“strong”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- (“stiff, tight”)) + hōld (“grasp, grip; control, possession, rule”) (from Old English). By surface analysis, strong + hold.
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “stronghold”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details