donjon

views updated May 29 2018

donjon.
1. Strongest part of a medieval castle, usually a tower or keep containing the best rooms and living-quarters, capable of being defended even if the outer walls of the castle were breached.

2. Lowest storey in a keep, usually a basement.

3. Prison of several compartments, or one cell, wholly or partly below ground level.

donjon

views updated May 17 2018

don·jon / ˈdänjən; ˈdən-/ • n. the great tower or innermost keep of a castle.

donjon

views updated May 17 2018

donjon arch. sp. of DUNGEON.

donjon

views updated May 11 2018

donjon the great tower or innermost keep of a castle. The word is recorded from Middle English, and is a variant of dungeon.