garrison

¹

[ gar-uh-suhn ]

noun

1. a body of troops stationed in a fortified place.
2. the place where such troops are stationed.
3. any military post, especially a permanent one.

verb (used with object)

1. to provide (a fort, town, etc.) with a garrison.
2. to occupy (a fort, post, station, etc.) with troops.
3. to put (troops) on duty in a fort, post, station, etc.

Garrison

²

[ gar-uh-suhn ]

noun

1. William Lloyd, 1805–79, U.S. leader in the abolition movement.

garrison

/ ˈɡærɪsən /

noun

1. the troops who maintain and guard a base or fortified place
2. 1. the place itself
   2. ( as modifier )

      a garrison town

verb

1. tr to station (troops) in (a fort)

Other Words From

• over·garri·son verb (used with object)
• re·garri·son verb (used with object)
• un·garri·soned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of garrison¹

1250–1300; Middle English garisoun protection, stronghold < Old French garison, gareison defense, provision, derivative of garir, guerir to defend < Germanic; compare Old High German warjan

Word History and Origins

Origin of garrison¹

C13: from Old French garison, from garir to defend, of Germanic origin; compare Old Norse verja to defend, Old English, Old High German werian

Example Sentences

The structure of the military administration mirrored such a proactive outlook, with the main garrison headquarters established in the north and south of Egypt, at Memphis and Thebes respectively.

From Realm of History

By taking the risk of sending out such material, Lewis outdid even the most brazen column Garrison had ever written, and he provoked a reaction in the South far greater than any abolitionist ever had.

From Time

By 1853, the partnership of Garrison, Douglass, and Weston Chapman was done.

From Time

We spent the night near the garrison, and he arrived at the mess hall for breakfast in a track suit, fresh from a morning jog through the war zone.

From Time

Tired of ever-increasing demands for food from the English, Powhatan warriors began raids on Jamestown and several small garrisons that had recently been established along the James River.

From Time

On another, Garrison said he handed a doctor a bottle of wine in a canister packed with $100 bills.

From The Daily Beast

On one occasion, Garrison said Williams had him hand one out-of-state doctor an envelope stuffed with $20,000 in cash.

From The Daily Beast

William Lloyd Garrison was probably the most prominent leader who relied on the effectiveness of hellfire.

From The Daily Beast

Abbottabad was founded by the British in 1853 to house a military garrison, which it still does.

From The Daily Beast

Gozik watched as the MPs used garrison belts to tie the condemned man to the pole.

From The Daily Beast

The garrison of the town and fortress was nearly three thousand strong.

From Project Gutenberg

They also seized the lake gunboats, took an entire Spanish garrison prisoner, and captured a large quantity of stores.

From Project Gutenberg

Each day the garrison dwindled; each day the rebels received fresh accessions of strength.

From Project Gutenberg

Next morning that glorious garrison quitted the shot-torn plain they had hallowed by their deeds.

From Project Gutenberg

Hastalrick, in Catalonia, evacuated for want of provisions; the garrison cut their way through the French troops.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• command post
• encampment
• fortress
• stronghold