presidio

[ pri-sid-ee-oh; Spanish pre-see-thyaw ]

See synonyms for presidio on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural pre·sid·i·os

[pri-sid-ee-ohz; Spanish pre-see-thyaws]. /prɪˈsɪd iˌoʊz; Spanish prɛˈsi ðyɔs/.

a garrisoned fort; military post.
a Spanish penal settlement.

Origin of presidio

1755–65, Americanism;<Spanish <Latin praesidium guard, garrison, post, literally, defense, protection. See presidium

Other words from presidio

pre·sid·i·al, pre·sid·i·ar·y [pri-sid-ee-er-ee], /prɪˈsɪd iˌɛr i/, adjective

Words Nearby presidio

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use presidio in a sentence

Mounted orderlies were dashing at breakneck speed between the presidio and the city.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
A Citizens' Patrol had been formed to protect the still unburned districts, each man provided with arms at the presidio.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
A fort was erected where the present presidio stands, and later a battery of cannon was placed at Black Point.
Stories of California | Ella M. Sexton
Carmen has wheedled the surgeon of the presidio to such good purpose that she has managed to get her rom out of prison.
Carmen | Prosper Merimee
The result is best shown by medical reports from the Fifteenth Infantry, lately stationed at the presidio.
The Road of a Thousand Wonders | Passenger Dept. Southern Pacific Co

British Dictionary definitions for presidio

presidio

/ (prɪˈsɪdɪˌəʊ, Spanish preˈsiðjo) /

nounplural -sidios (-ˈsɪdɪˌəʊz, Spanish -ˈsiðjos)

a military post or establishment, esp in countries under Spanish control

Origin of presidio

C19: from Spanish: garrison, from Latin praesidium a guard, protection; see preside

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse