bastille

n. The famous fortress and prison in Paris that was attacked in 1789, starting the French Revolution.

n. The specific fortress in Paris used as a state prison, the destruction of which is a central symbol of the French Revolution.

“The people of Paris marched to the Bastille to find gunpowder and free the prisoners.”

“The fall of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, served as a powerful catalyst for the collapse of the French monarchy.”

n. A prison or jail, especially one where the prisoners are treated very badly.

n. A figurative term for a prison or place of confinement, particularly one characterized by oppressive conditions.

“The old city jail was a dark bastille where no one wanted to be sent.”

“Human rights activists described the remote detention centre as a modern bastille that ignored international law.”

Literary

n. A name used in the past for a workhouse, which was a place where poor people had to live and work.

n. A derogatory figurative term for a workhouse, reflecting the perceived prison-like conditions of such institutions.

“The poor families feared being sent to the bastille if they could not pay their debts.”

“Nineteenth-century social critics often referred to the local workhouse as the 'bastille' to highlight its cruel treatment of the destitute.”

British English · Archaic

v. To put someone in a prison or to lock them away.

v. To confine or imprison someone, often used in a figurative or highly formal context.

“The king decided to bastille his enemies to keep them from starting a rebellion.”

“The political dissidents were bastilled without trial, hidden away from the public eye for nearly a decade.”

Literary · Formal