stronghold
(ˈstrɒŋhəʊld)
[f. strong a. + hold n. (Originally strong hold.)]
A strongly fortified place of defence, a secure place of refuge or retreat, a fastness.
| c 1425 Cursor M. 17342 (Trin.) Þei ladde Ioseph..To prisoun in to a strong holde [Cott. in a stalworth hald]. a 1466 Gregory Chron. in Hist. Coll. Cit. Lond. (Camden) 149 The nombyr of an C townys and castellys, abbeys, and strong⁓holdys. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. v. lxxvii. (1811) 56 They wan frome y⊇ Almaynes dyuers Townes & stronge holds w{supt}in Germania. 1524 Wolsey in St. Papers Hen. VIII, VI. 249 To procede towardes Paris, in whiche waye is neither strong holde or river to empeche or let them. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. xiv. ii. 5 This strong hold therefore they besieged round about for three dayes and three nights together. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 42 They followed the rest to Policat, a Strong-Hold of theirs. 1799 Sheridan Pizarro i. i. 18 We know there is a secret path that leads to your strong-hold among the rocks. 1807–8 Wordsw. White Doe iii. 205 Back therefore will they hie to seize A strong Hold on the banks of Tees. 1833 L. Ritchie Wand. by Loire 158 It was here that, in..the thirteenth century, a famous robber had his stronghold. 1869 H. F. Tozer Highl. Turkey I. 147 Salonica..retained its importance as a strong⁓hold of resistance to the barbarians. |
b. transf. and fig.
| 1535 Coverdale Ps. lxxi. 3 Be thou my stronge holde. 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Nat. i, O tame my heart; It is thy highest art To captivate strong holds to thee. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. iv. iv. §1 Such Castles in the Air will be as Strong Holds of Truth, as the Demonstrations of Euclid. 1825 Jennings Observ. Dial. W. Eng. 187 The South of Somersetshire, one of the strong holds..of the Anglo-Saxon dialect. 1830 Westm. Rev. XIII. 86 Except in a few strong holds where prejudice still fights against reason. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. v. 389 The Northern counties..were the stronghold of the papal party. 1880 ‘Brooksby’ Hunting Countries ii. 199 Near Trafford Bridge are some good coverts, Warden Hill is a stronghold. |