fort

¹ American  

[fawrt, fohrt] / fɔrt, foʊrt /

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.

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idioms

1. hold the fort,

   1. to defend one's position against attack or criticism.

   2. to maintain the existing state of affairs.

fort. ² American  

abbreviation

1. fortification.

2. fortified.

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fort British  

/ fɔːt /

noun

1. a fortified enclosure, building, or position able to be defended against an enemy

2. informal to maintain or guard something temporarily

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fort More Idioms  

1. see hold the fort.

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Etymology

Origin of fort

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

Example Sentences

Despite those staggering volumes, Ukraine holds the fort.

From Los Angeles Times

Gahagen helps “holds down the fort” at home with the couple’s dogs and travels with her when possible.

From Los Angeles Times

Cannons boomed from the forts lining the shore while merchants, clerks, clergy, lawyers, and omnibus drivers from Wall Street to the Bowery celebrated.

From Literature

Even if the country was never home to the coastal forts from which the trafficking of African people was organised, many enslaved people passed through it on the way to the New World.

From Barron's

When she started talking about abandoned forts with old passageways, Teddy and Freddy threw their heads back and made snoring noises.

From Literature