bastile

Variant of bastille

bastille definition

bas·tille or bastile bas·tile′ (bas tēl′)

noun

  1. in ancient warfare, a tower for defense or attack; small fortress
  2. a prison

Etymology: ME bastile & Fr bastille, both < OFr bastille, altered < bastide < bastida < fem. pp. of bastir, build, orig., make with bast: see baste

bastille Idioms

the Bastille

a state prison in Paris that was stormed and destroyed (1789) in the French Revolution: its destruction is commemorated on Bastille Day, July 14

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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