citadel

[ sit-uh-dl, -uh-del ]

/ ˈsɪt ə dl, -əˌdɛl /

a fortress that commands a city and is used in the control of the inhabitants and in defense during attack or siege.

any strongly fortified place; stronghold.

(formerly) a heavily armored structure on a warship, for protecting the engines, magazines, etc.

Origin of citadel

1580–90; < Middle French citadelle < Old Italian cittadella, equivalent to cittad(e) city + -ella -elle

cistron, cistus, cistvaen, cit, cit., citadel, citalopram, citation, citation form, cite, cites

He hits bottom at Rocamadour, a sanctuary in the Dordogne known as a citadel of faith devoted to Mary.

Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President |Pierre Assouline |January 9, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
They severed the last railroad lifeline into Atlanta, making the Citadel of the Confederacy as it was touted no longer tenable.

Atlanta’s Fall Foretold The End Of Civil War Bloodshed |Marc Wortman |September 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
She seemed to know, to accept, to welcome her position, the citadel of the family, the strong place that could not be taken.

Is There a Ma Joad for the Piketty Era? |Katie Baker |July 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Once this citadel is breached, the other walls can come tumbling down.

Praying While Packing Heat and Other Unwieldy American Traditions |Jack Schwartz |February 18, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

It turns out that Santorum has a deep connection to the Citadel.

The Real Appeal of Rick Santorum |Michael Tomasky |January 21, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
The French abolished monarchy by a frontal attack upon the citadel, involving serious loss.

James Watt |Andrew Carnegie
Of public buildings, the most remarkable is the Cassaubah, or citadel, the situation of which we have already mentioned.

The Pirates Own Book |Charles Ellms
The earth from the citadel was carted to the Champ de Mars to increase its size and to build it up.

Montreal 1535-1914, Volume II (of 2) |William Henry Atherton
The citadel of Mex had several breaches made in the works, but no guns were dismounted.

The Egyptian campaigns, 1882 to 1885 |Charles Royle
D'Orville then, before giving up the citadel, demanded three hostages for the lives of his three brothers-in-law.

History of the United Netherlands, 1590-1599, Vol. III. Complete |John Lothrop Motley

citadel

/ (ˈsɪtədəl, -ˌdɛl) /

a stronghold within or close to a city

any strongly fortified building or place of safety; refuge

a specially strengthened part of the hull of a warship

(often capital) the headquarters of the Salvation Army

C16: from Old French citadelle, from Old Italian cittadella a little city, from cittade city, from Latin cīvitās