Middle English Dictionary Entry
dǒnǧǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dǒnǧǒun n. Also dongeoun, -gen, -gin, -io(u)n, -yon, & dung(e)oun, -gun, -io(u)n, -yon, -chon & doung(e)oun, -gin. |
| Etymology | OF donjon, ult. Gmc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. dong (2).
1.
(a) A fortress, citadel, castle; (b) the most strongly fortified central part of a citadel or castle, donjon, keep; chef ~, roial ~; (c) fig. of a person: chief support, mainstay; (d) fig. the Big Dipper.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)prol.15 : A Deop Dale bineoþe, A dungun [B: dongeon] þer-Inne, With deop dich..dredful of siht.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.121 : Steuen..did reise in þat coste a stalworth donjon [vr. chastel].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.933 : To bilde a paleys and a riche halle, Whiche schuld ben his chose chef dongon, His royal se and souereyn mansioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1740 : Þe kyng..In his palys and dongoun principal Sat and abod.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)937 : The noble tour of Ylioun, That of the cite was the chef dongeoun.
- (1432) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xxviii : Whan I come to the Castell of Hithyngham..I was hadde to the dungeon.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.1241 : In the frount [of Carthage], reised for the werre, Of stonis squar was an hih dongoun Callid Birsa.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)110 : Ylyon was the mayster doongon to Troye and the faryst and the strengest castell that euer was made.
- c1450 Siege Troy(2) (Rwl D.82)278 : He lete make..a miȝti dongeoun, a toure that was hie and thick..diched and countremured strongely, within which Priamus held his palis; and was called Ilyon.
b
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)88/1841 : Þer biside on o donioun [vr. Vpon a towr] He kest a man of cler latoun.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1057 : The grete tour..Which of the castel was the chief dongeoun, Ther as the knyghtes weren in prisoun.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9926 : Þe thrid [colur]..þat þe kirnels ar paint wit-al..castes lem..þat reches to þe dunjon.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6334 : Þei..turnen vp so doun Boþe wal & tour & þe chefe dongoun.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1883 : Til he atteyned hath the chief dongoun, wher as the kyng helde his mancyoun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.1446 : Kyng Phelipp..Sittyng at mete withynne his cheeff dongoun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.1424 : His visioun, Which that he hadde..Whan that he slepte in his roial dongoun.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)4398 : Cast doun in to þe deppust putte Of þe gret castellys of Salisbury dunchone.
- (c1460) Let.Sou.in Sou.RS 22 (Sou SC.2/9/2)22 : Wher of olde tyme the Donjon of the seide Castell had a fayre well, it is nowe infoundred & withoute water.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)12 : By grete assautes [they] entred and gate the towne..but the castelle and donjoune held still.
- a1500 Parton.(1) (Add 35288)8078 : My lady herborowed shall be In þe dongeon for more suerte. Be hir also moste sitte þere The lordes all.
c
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)25/21 : Fair Seris..Ye be our strenght and oure dunyon.
d
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.3103 : Translatid was þe sunne [i.e. King Arthur] Vp to the riche sterri briht dongoun..Callid Arthuris constellacioun.
2.
(a) An underground prison cell in the donjon of a castle; also, any dark prison; ~ dep; derk ~; ~ dore, the entrance to such a prison; (b) fig. hell, limbo, hades; the human body; the womb; dol ~, vale of tears, this world.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.101 : Now taken is Roberd & brouht vnto prison, At Corue his kastelle sperd depe in a dongeon.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)158 : Stik hym stifly in stokez, and stekez hym þerafter Depe in my doungoun þer doel ever dwellez.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.1466 : This duk was..throwe in a derk dongoun.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12094 : He aspiet hir..Doune in a dungion..of a toure olde.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)1242 : In downgyn depe scho dyd hym thryng.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.720 : The gayleris were sore afrayde Of certeyn light at the dongeon-doore.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)222/562 : In donyon depe he shalbe pynde.
b
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Pilgr.(Phys-E)p.58 : His sawel es broht til a donjoun, Thar it wit outen end sal lend.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1187 : So wel is me in þys doel doungoun, Þat þou art to þat Prynsez paye.
- a1425(c1300) NHom.(1) Dom.infra Nativ.(Cmb Gg.5.31)p.77 : Wykked folk sall fall doun Into hell, that foule dongoun.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)463 : When he out came From þat dungeon, his moder wame.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Hrl 1766)9.3461 : Somme ploungyd doun to the infernal dongouns, With cruel Pluto depe doun in helle.
- c1440 Lorde gode Ihu (Thrn)9 : Fra a myrke downgeon þou broghte me..Þat es, my modirs wambe, to þis lighte.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)29.248 : Helle, that lowe doniown.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)189/128 : Crist..Þat vs schall fro þat dongeoun drawe.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)112 : The carnall pryson Of the body, to the soule a dongeon.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)313/230 : With bytter bayll I haue the boght..Into this dongeon depe I soght, And all for luf of the.
3.
(a) A cave or den serving as a shelter, a lowly shelter; (b) a pit, a moat; (c) a whirlpool or vortex.
Associated quotations
a
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6205 : In placis that were solitarie, Mong trees & wellis he bilt hym a donioun.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Consulo (Hrl 2255)83 : Kyng Alisaundir, he conqueryd al; Diogenes lay in a smal dongoun.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Meas.Treas.(Hrl 2255)147 : Myn office is to walke in wyldirnesse, Reste a-nyght in cavys and dongeounnys.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.PPeace (Hrl 2255)73 : Briht was the sterre ovir the dongoun..Wher the Heuenly Queen lay.
b
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2301 : Summe fulle out ouer þe wal into þe dupe dongoun, & breke hure nekkes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12647 : Doune in the dongyn of a dry pit Was a gobet..all of gold hid.
c
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)538 : That worldly wawes..Ne drowne me nat in the dredfull dongeoun, Where Caribdes hath domynacioun.