citadel

noun

Etymology: From French citadelle, from Italian cittadella, diminutive of città (“city”), from Latin cīvitās.

1. A strong fortress that sits high above a city.

   “In the city’s midst the gleaming marble of a thousand steps climbed to the citadel where arose four pinnacles beckoning to heaven, and midmost between the pinnacles there stood the dome, vast, as the gods had dreamed it.”

2. A stronghold or fortified place.

   “Intrenched within the citadel of our apartment, and cheered by the comfortings of a coal fire, we passed the day in letter-writing, conversation, or gazing from the sheltered security of our windows upon the agitated sea[…]”

3. An armoured portion of a warship, housing important equipment.

   “Twenty-two of these — eleven per broadside — were on the main deck within a central citadel, essentially an armor-protected box in the middle of the ship. Also within the citadel were four 110-pdr. breech-loaders.”

4. A Salvation Army meeting place.