Where does “dungeon” come from?
Dungeon comes from Middle English dongoun, from Old French donjon, from Frankish dungjo, from Proto-Germanic dungijǭ, from Proto-Indo-European dʰengʰ-, a root of uncertain meaning.
dungeon (English): An underground prison or vault, typically built...
Definitions
- An underground prison or vault, typically built...
Ancestry of “dungeon”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | dongeoun | A castle; a great fortification |
| 2 | Old French | donjon | Alternative form of donjun; castle keep |
| 3 | Vulgar Latin | *dominiōnem | — |