donjon

views updated May 29 2018

donjon.
1. Strongest part of a medieval castle, usually a tower or keep containing the best rooms and living-quarters, capable of being defended even if the outer walls of the castle were breached.

2. Lowest storey in a keep, usually a basement.

3. Prison of several compartments, or one cell, wholly or partly below ground level.

A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture JAMES STEVENS CURL

donjon

views updated May 17 2018

don·jon / ˈdänjən; ˈdən-/ • n. the great tower or innermost keep of a castle.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

donjon

views updated May 17 2018

donjon arch. sp. of DUNGEON.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

donjon

views updated May 11 2018

donjon the great tower or innermost keep of a castle. The word is recorded from Middle English, and is a variant of dungeon.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

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