Bastile


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Bas`tile´

    (bås`tēl´ or bås´tėl; 277)
n.1.
1.(Feud. Fort.) A tower or an elevated work, used for the defense, or in the siege, of a fortified place.
The high bastiles . . . which overtopped the walls.
- Holland.
2."The Bastille", formerly a castle or fortress in Paris, used as a prison, especially for political offenders; hence, a rhetorical name for a prison.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, published 1913 by G. & C. Merriam Co.
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References in classic literature ?
D'Artagnan arrived at the Bastile just as it was striking half-past eight.
During the period that the Duc de Bassompierre passed in the Bastile -- where he remained for twelve long years -- when his companions, in their dreams of liberty, said to each other: "As for me, I shall go out of the prison at such a time," and another, at such and such a time, the duke used to answer, "As for me, gentlemen, I shall leave only when Monsieur du Tremblay leaves;" meaning that at the death of the cardinal Du Tremblay would certainly lose his place at the Bastile and De Bassompierre regain his at court.
The unhappy wretch who entered the Bastile ceased, as he crossed the threshold, to be a man -- he became a number.
I would rather die on straw than hoard up a thousand a year by being governor of the Bastile."
On a bed of green serge, similar in all respect to the other beds in the Bastile, save that it was newer, and under curtains half-drawn, reposed a young man, to whom we have already once before introduced Aramis.
"How does the Bastile agree with you?" asked the bishop.
"My enemy must indeed be powerful, to be able to shut up in the Bastile a child such as I then was."
"After which," said Aramis, "you were arrested and removed to the Bastile."
I speak plainly: we are between the gallows and the Bastile."
`Monsieur d'Artagnan, I send to the king of France the treaty in question, with a request that he will cast into the Bastile provisionally, and then send to me, all who have taken part in this expedition; and that is a prayer with which the king will certainly comply.'"
You did not appear to me to have any fear of the gibbets of Monk, or the Bastile of his majesty, King Louis XIV., but you will do me the favor of being afraid of me.
You would have almost thought they were pulling down the cursed Bastile, such wild cries they raised, as the now useless brick and mortar were being hurled into the sea.