donjon

[duhn-juhn, don-]

noun

1. the inner tower, keep, or stronghold of a castle.

donjon

/ ˈdʌndʒən, ˈdɒn- /

noun

1. Also called: dungeon. the heavily fortified central tower or keep of a medieval castle

Word History and Origins

Origin of donjon¹

Variant of dungeon

Word History and Origins

Origin of donjon¹

C14: archaic variant of dungeon

Example Sentences

We toured “le donjon,” and he explained to me that the word donjon, in French, means a keep or a main tower and is not to be confused with a dungeon.

From New York Times

The king did not order her loaded with chains and haled to the donjon keep.

From Project Gutenberg

“We’ve got a right to talk as loudly as we like, I take it, being alone in a dark old donjon keep!”

From Project Gutenberg

The outer enceinte, to which is attached a cylindrical donjon erected by Philip Augustus, king of France, embraces an area of over 7 acres.

From Project Gutenberg

Above the donjon, a broad flag flapped lazily in the air, and the blazon on it--three wasps on a green field--was his own.

From Project Gutenberg