▪ I. redoubt, n.
(rɪˈdaʊt)
Also 7, 9 redout(e.
[ad. F. redoute, † redote, ridotte (first recorded in 1616), ad. It. ridotto (= Sp. reducto, Pg. reducto, reduto, F. réduit: see reduit):—med.L. reductus a secret place, a refuge, f. L. reductus retired, pa. pple. of redūcĕre to reduce.
The b in Eng. is intrusive, an analogy of redoubt v.]
1. Fortif. † a. A small work made in a bastion or ravelin of a permanent fortification, or (detached redoubt) at some distance beyond the glacis, but within musket-shot from the covert-way. Obs. b. A species of out-work or field-work, usually of a square or polygonal shape, and with little or no means of flanking defence.
| a 1608 Sir F. Vere Comm. (1657) 4 Because there were upon it certain small redoubts held by the enemie, we took along with us two small field-pieces. 1625 B. Jonson Staple of N. iv, When my muster-master..tells you of redoubts, of cats, and cortines. 1673 Sir J. Moore Mod. Fortif. 95 Plain Redoubts, are either small or great; the small are fit for Court of Guards in the Trenches. 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn. I. s.v., In Marshy Grounds, these Redoubts are often made of Mason's Work for the Security of the Neighbourhood. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxxiii, They were fired from that redoubt yonder, and rare execution they did. 1834–47 J. S. Macaulay Field Fortif. (1851) 13 The defects of a circular redoubt are, that it is difficult to apply to irregular sites, and that it distributes its fire equally on every part whether required or not. |
c. fig. and in fig. context.
| 1629 B. Jonson in Sir J. Beaumont Bosworth F., etc. a j b, Yet, who dares offer a redoubt to reare? To cut a Dike? or sticke a Stake vp, here, Before this worke? 1663 Butler Hud. i. i. 326 [The rats] till th' were stormed and beaten out Ne'er left the fortified Redoubt. 1712 Swift Sid Hamet 51 A magical Redoubt To keep mischievous Spirits out. 1781 Cowper Conversat. 689 They..Enlarge and fortify the dread redoubt, Deeply resolved to shut a Saviour out. 1841 Emerson Lect. on Times Wks. (Bohn) II. 249 This great fact of Conservatism, entrenched in its immense redoubts. 1955 Times 16 May 3/4 Labour's most south-westerly redoubt is in acute danger. 1963 Times 30 May 13/2 It would be too embarrassing for all concerned if Ebbw Vale and the other Labour redoubts were to be presented on nomination day with official Labour candidates on top of the sitting ‘independents’. 1970 R. Lowell Notebk. 72 Let's face it, English is a racist redoubt. 1977 Time 21 Mar. 10/3 Like his predecessors, he has tried—and failed—to overcome the age-old linguistic dispute that makes Belgium the staunchest redoubt of tribalism in Western Europe. |
2. Fortif. = reduit.
| 1802 James Milit. Dict., Redoubt,..a place more particularly intrenched and separated from the rest by a ditch. 1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 348/2 Any works constructed within others, in order to prolong their defence, or to afford a retreat for the troops who occupy them, are also called redoubts. |
3. A public assembly-hall in Germany used for gambling and entertainments; also transf. an assembly held there, esp. a masked ball.
| 1787 [see assemblée]. 1818 Autumn near Rhine 509 The Redoubt is a large handsome building, the ground-floor open with a colonnade in front. 1858 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. vi. iii. (1872) II. 150 The two Kings, after dinner, went in domino to the redoubt (ridotto, what we now call rout or evening party). |
▪ II. † redoubt, ppl. a. Obs.
[f. next.]
Redoubted.
| 1417 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 54 Our righte redoubt and righte soveraiyne liege Lord. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) v. iii. M M ij b, How moche is this horryble thynge cruell and redoubte as to offende god and his commaundementes to trespasse. |
▪ III. redoubt, v. Now rhet.
(rɪˈdaʊt)
Also 4–7 redoute, 5–6 redowt, (4 -e).
[ad. F. redouter, † redoubter (11th c.), f. re- re- + douter to doubt. Cf. obs. It. ridottare.]
trans. To dread, fear, stand in awe or apprehension of: a. a person, nation, etc. (Chiefly in pa. pple.)
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. ii. pr. vii. 45 (Camb. MS.), Yit was..Roome wel waxen and gretly redowted of the parthes [L. Parthis..formidolosa]. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 2 Charles the Sext..the quhilk is lufit and redoubtit our all the warld. c 1500 Melusine 200 Regnald..made so grete appertyse of armes that alle his enemyes redoubted hym. 1590 C'tess Pembroke Antonie 947, I conquer'd Rome, that Nations so redoubt. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 2 He seem'd to hold that strong temper of Authority, which made him esteem'd and redoubted both at home and abroad. 1728 Morgan Algiers II. i. 212 Algiers formidable and redoubted as it renders itself to many of the Coasts of Europe measures barely one League about. 1866 Edin. Rev. Oct. 363 The Sawflies are those most to be redoubted by the English farmer. |
b. a thing or event.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. i. pr. iii. 5 (Camb. MS.) Sholde I thanne redowte my blame. 1491 Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) i. xlviii. 92/2 They had seen his Iugements, whyche ben moche to be fered and redoubted. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cclxxv. 412 Whiche thynges they sayd ought greatly to be redoubted and consydered. c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. cxxi. ii, March lustily on, redoubt no falling. 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. ix. 27 Here is the cause that makes me so much redoubt the coming of mine enemies. 1782 J. Elphinston Martial i. lxx. 61 Yet, bold approach; thou canst redoubt no pride. 1889 J. J. Thomas Froudacity 198 Whiteness of skin was both redoubted and tremblingly crouched to by negroes. |