garrison

Everyday

1. A group of soldiers living in a town or fort to guard it. tree →
2. The fort, castle or town where these soldiers live. tree →
3. (verb) To put soldiers in a place to guard it. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons garrisons appear with castles, Roman forts on Hadrian's Wall, and towns during wars and sieges. In stories a garrison defends a fortress against attackers. Phrases: a garrison town, the garrison surrendered, to garrison a fort.

Examples

• The Romans kept a garrison at every fort along Hadrian's Wall. tree →
• The castle's garrison held out for three months. tree →
• Gibraltar was a British garrison town for centuries. tree →
• The king garrisoned the town with 500 soldiers. tree →
• When food ran out, the garrison surrendered. tree →
• A small garrison guarded the bridge. tree →
• His proposals were gladly accepted, and in a moment the whole of the garrison sank down as if they were dead, and Virgilius himself had much ado to keep awake. tree →

Note

Countable noun: a garrison, two garrisons. Verb past: garrisoned. Spelling: double r, single s. A garrison is a group; you do not say «a garrison» for one soldier.

In Jewish tradition

A band of soldiers posted in a place, often a foreign army holding a town. The word is also used for the post itself.

Interpretation. In the stories of David and the Philistines, a garrison shows foreign rule. David's garrisons in Edom show his power over his neighbors.

Examples

• And the garrison of the Philistines went out unto the pass of Michmas. (Prophets 1SA.13.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became servants to David. (Writings 1CH.18.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem. (Prophets 2SA.23.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable noun: a garrison, two garrisons. Verb past: garrisoned. Spelling: double r, single s. A garrison is a group; you do not say «a garrison» for one soldier.