BASTILLE
Dictionary entry overview: What does Bastille mean?
• BASTILLE (noun)
The noun BASTILLE has 2 senses:
1. a fortress built in Paris in the 14th century and used as a prison in the 17th and 18th centuries; it was destroyed July 14, 1789 at the start of the French Revolution
2. a jail or prison (especially one that is run in a tyrannical manner)
Familiarity information: BASTILLE used as a noun is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• BASTILLE (noun)
Meaning:
A fortress built in Paris in the 14th century and used as a prison in the 17th and 18th centuries; it was destroyed July 14, 1789 at the start of the French Revolution
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Instance hypernyms:
fort; fortress (a fortified defensive structure)
Domain region:
France; French Republic (a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe)
Holonyms ("Bastille" is a part of...):
capital of France; City of Light; French capital; Paris (the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce)
Meaning:
A jail or prison (especially one that is run in a tyrannical manner)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("bastille" is a kind of...):
clink; gaol; jail; jailhouse; pokey; poky; slammer (a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence))
prison; prison house (a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment)
