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

1. fortification.

2. fortified.

fort

/ fɔːt /

noun

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

2. 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.

see hold the fort.

Example Sentences

The children bowed and snuggled back into their pillow fort.

Read more on Literature

In 1696, this rebellion came to full flower when an Arab force sailed into an African harbor at Mombasa and laid siege to the vital Portuguese fort at Fort Jesus.

Read more on Literature

The blast outside the historic fort was the first such explosion in the heavily guarded city since 2011.

Read more on BBC

“If we don’t hold the fort down, there will be nothing to come back to,” Hearring said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"And is that possible for next week? I genuinely do not know. My job was to come in and hold the fort, and the minute that someone is appointed, I will step aside."

Read more on Barron's