presidio

pre·si·di·o

P0540600 (prĭ-sē′dē-ō′, -sĭd′ē-ō′)n. pl. pre·si·di·os A garrison, especially a fortress of the kind established in the southwest United States by the Spanish to protect their holdings and missions.

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[Spanish, from Latin praesidium, guard, defense, from praesidēre, to guard; see preside.]

presidio

(prɪˈsɪdɪˌəʊ; Spanish preˈsiðjo) n, pl -sidios (-ˈsɪdɪˌəʊz; Spanish -ˈsiðjos) (Military) a military post or establishment, esp in countries under Spanish control[C19: from Spanish: garrison, from Latin praesidium a guard, protection; see preside]

pre•sid•i•o

(prɪˈsɪd iˌoʊ)

n., pl. -sid•i•os. 1. a garrisoned fort; military post. 2. a Spanish penal settlement. [1755–65, Amer.; < Sp < Latin praesidium garrison, post, literally, defense] pre•sid′i•al, adj.

presidio

A Spanish term meaning guard, used to mean a fortress such as one established by the Spanish in the southwestern United States.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

presidio - a fortress established in the southwestern United States by the Spanish in order to protect their missions and other holdings; "Tucson was first settled as a walled presidio"fortress, fort - a fortified defensive structure