dongeoun

Middle English

Alternative forms

• dongeon, dongoun, dongyn, donjon, donjoun, donjown, donjoune, donyon, doungoun, downgeon, dunchone, dungeon

Etymology

From a merger of Old French donjon (“main residence of a castle, fortified tower”) and Old English dung (“underground cellar, dungeon, prison”), whence also Middle English donge (“pit, abyss”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dunˈdʒuːn/, /ˈdundʒun/

Noun

dongeoun

1. A castle; a great fortification.
2. The keep or donjon of a castle.
3. A dungeon; an underground prison.
4. (figurative) An abyssal prison, such as Hell or the world.
5. (rare) A rough dwelling or refuge.
6. (rare) A pit; an abyss.
7. (rare) A whirlpool or vortex.

Related terms

• dingle

Descendants

• English: dungeon, donjon
• Scots: dungeon

References

• “dǒnǧǒun, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.