dungeon

Where does the word "dungeon" come from? It comes from Late Latin dominionem, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Dungeon’s story begins in Late Latin: dominionem meant “lordship.” From 'dominus', lord, the same root as 'dominion' and 'domain'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as donjon. The lord's great tower, the strongest and most central part of a castle. It reached English by 1300s as dungeon. The prison cells under the keep eventually took over the whole meaning. Today, dungeon means a dark underground prison cell, especially in a castle.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient dominionem "lordship", from 'dominus', lord, the same root as 'dominion' and 'domain'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval donjon "castle keep", the lord's great tower, the strongest and most central part of a castle.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s dungeon "an underground prison", the prison cells under the keep eventually took over the whole meaning.