stronghold
NOUN:
1. a well-fortified or defensible place; fortress.
2. a place that serves as the center of a group, as of militants or of persons holding a controversial viewpoint:
The campus was a stronghold of diversity.
3. a place of security or survival:
one of the last strongholds of the ancient Gaelic language. —George Holmes.
4. a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic:
strongholds of hope.
5. a major center or area of predominance.
Example:
The rebels retreated to their mountain stronghold. —Merriam-Webster.
Origin:
late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at strong, hold1. Dictionary 2: C15: from strong + hold 1 (in the archaic sense: a fortified place). —Dictionary.com. // First Known Use of stronghold: 15th century. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
1. a well-fortified or defensible place; fortress.
2. a place that serves as the center of a group, as of militants or of persons holding a controversial viewpoint:
The campus was a stronghold of diversity.
3. a place of security or survival:
one of the last strongholds of the ancient Gaelic language. —George Holmes.
4. a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic:
strongholds of hope.
5. a major center or area of predominance.
Example:
The rebels retreated to their mountain stronghold. —Merriam-Webster.
Origin:
late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at strong, hold1. Dictionary 2: C15: from strong + hold 1 (in the archaic sense: a fortified place). —Dictionary.com. // First Known Use of stronghold: 15th century. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.