stronghold

Meaning

Noun

• A place built to withstand attack; a fortress.
• A place of domination by, or refuge or survival of, a particular group or idea.

Origin

• From Middle English strong-hold, strong-holde, stranghalde (equivalent to strong + hold), from Middle English strong ("having physical strength, sturdy, strong; built to withstand assaults, fortified") (from Old English strang, strong, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- ("stiff, tight")) + Middle English hōld ("grasp, grip; control, possession, rule") (from Old English).