stronghold

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*strengʰ-“stiff, tight”
2. Old English · inherited fromstrang
3. Middle English · inherited fromstranghalde, strong-hold, strong-holde
4. English todaystronghold

From Middle English stranghalde, strong-hold, strong-holde, from strong (“having physical strength, sturdy, strong; built to withstand assaults, fortified”) (from Old English strang, strong (“strong”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- (“stiff, tight”)) + hōld (“grasp, grip; control, possession, rule”) (from Old English). By surface analysis, strong + hold.

Words from the same roots