donjon

/ˈdän-jən ˈdən-/ (ame, mw)

donjon — noun

1. the strong central tower inside a medieval castle, where the lord and his family

1.名詞C2
釋義

the strong central tower inside a medieval castle, where the lord and his family lived and which served as the last place of defence if the outer walls were taken.

例句

Visitors to the castle climb a narrow staircase inside the donjon to reach the lord's old chamber.

typical pattern: inside / within the donjon

When the outer wall fell, Adina and the remaining guards retreated into the donjon and barred the heavy oak door.

collocation: retreat into the donjon

同義詞
  • keep

    the standard English term; more common in everyday writing about castles

  • great tower

    descriptive phrase used in some architectural writing for the same structure

文法句型

the donjon of [castle name]

用法筆記

Almost always used in historical or architectural writing about European castles, especially French ones. In English-language castle studies, 'keep' is the everyday equivalent; 'donjon' signals a more technical or French-influenced register.

常見錯誤

❌The prisoners were locked in the donjon below the castle.
✅The prisoners were locked in the dungeon below the castle.
💡'donjon' is the tall central tower, not an underground prison cell; the modern word 'dungeon' (for a prison) comes from it but now means something different.