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citadel

 - 3 dictionary results

cit⋅a⋅del

[sit-uh-dl, -uh-del]
–noun
1. a fortress that commands a city and is used in the control of the inhabitants and in defense during attack or siege.
2. any strongly fortified place; stronghold.
3. (formerly) a heavily armored structure on a warship, for protecting the engines, magazines, etc.

Origin:
1580–90; < MF citadelle < OIt cittadella, equiv. to cittad(e) city + -ella -elle
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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cit·a·del   (sĭt'ə-dəl, -děl')   
n.  
  1. A fortress in a commanding position in or near a city.

  2. A stronghold or fortified place; a bulwark.


[French citadelle, from Italian cittadella, diminutive of città, city, from Latin cīvitās; see city.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

citadel 
1586, "fortress commanding a city," from It. cittadella, dim. of cittade "city," from L. civitatem (see city).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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