fort

¹

[ fawrt, fohrt ]

noun

1. a strong or fortified place occupied by troops and usually surrounded by walls, ditches, and other defensive works; a fortress; fortification.
2. any permanent army post.
3. (formerly) a trading post.

fort.

²

abbreviation for

1. fortification.
2. fortified.

fort

/ fɔːt /

noun

1. a fortified enclosure, building, or position able to be defended against an enemy
2. hold the fort informal.
   to maintain or guard something temporarily

Word History and Origins

Origin of fort¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from Middle French, noun use of adjective fort “strong,” from Latin fortis “strong, tough, hardy”

Word History and Origins

Origin of fort¹

C15: from Old French, from fort (adj) strong, from Latin fortis

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hold the fort,
   1. to defend one's position against attack or criticism.
   2. to maintain the existing state of affairs.

More idioms and phrases containing fort

see hold the fort .

Example Sentences

Bancroft’s great-grandmother, who was a young girl at the time, was among those who escaped from the fort and safely made the journey back home on foot.

From Los Angeles Times

The neighbourhood of Brahmapuri in India’s Jodhpur city stands at the foot of a famous fort that’s perched atop a hill.

From BBC

Could he hold the fort while a wider search goes on?

From BBC

The city dismantled the fort in 2016 after significant pressure from the California Coastal Commission.

From Los Angeles Times

“When I’m at a restaurant, I will fold up the chopstick wrapper and build a little fort with the plates and chopsticks and, like, make stuff in my hands,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times