[f. STRONG a. + HOLD sb. (Originally strong hold.)]
A strongly fortified place of defence, a secure place of refuge or retreat, a fastness.
c. 1425. Cursor M., 17342 (Trin.). Þei ladde Ioseph … To prisoun in to a strong holde [Cott. in a stalworth hald].
a. 1466. Gregory, Chron., in Hist. Coll. Cit. Lond. (Camden), 149. The nombyr of an C townys and castellys, abbeys, and strongholdys.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., V. lxxvii. (1811), 56. They wan frome ye Almaynes dyuers Townes & stronge holds wtin Germania.
1524. Wolsey, in St. Papers Hen. VIII., VI. 249. To procede towardes Paris, in whiche waye is neither strong holde or river to empeche or let them.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XIV. ii. 5. This strong hold therefore they besieged round about for three dayes and three nights together.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 42. They followed the rest to Policat, a Strong-Hold of theirs.
1799. Sheridan, Pizarro, I. i. 18. We know there is a secret path that leads to your strong-hold among the rocks.
1807–8. Wordsw., White Doe, III. 205. Back therefore will they hie to seize A strong Hold on the banks of Tees.
1833. L. Ritchie, Wand. by Loire, 158. It was here that, in … the thirteenth century, a famous robber had his stronghold.
1869. Tozer, Highl. Turkey, I. 147. Salonica … retained its importance as a stronghold of resistance to the barbarians.
b. transf. and fig.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. lxxi. 3. Be thon my stronge holde.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Nat., i. O tame my heart; It is thy highest art To captivate strong holds to thee.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., IV. iv. § 1. Such Castles in the Air will be as Strong Holds of Truth, as the Demonstrations of Euclid.
1825. Jennings, Observ. Dial. W. Eng., 187. The South of Somersetshire, one of the strong holds … of the Anglo-Saxon dialect.
1830. Westm. Rev., XIII. 86. Except in a few strong holds where prejudice still fights against reason.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. v. 389. The Northern counties … were the stronghold of the papal party.
1880. ‘Brooksby,’ Hunting Countries, II. 199. Near Trafford Bridge are some good coverts, Warden Hill is a stronghold.
