baster3 (baster)

[ One 471 shortly afterward. There were delivered from the prison cells four forgers, two lunatics, and a nobleman who had been confined at the demand of his family. In Paris la Bastile is, as our Tower, the chief prison of the kingdom. Cotgrave. That rock-fortre , Tyranny's stronghold, which they name Bastille . Carlyle, French Rev., I. iv. 3. Hence-3. By extension, any prison, especially one conducted in an arbitrary or oppre ive way. The modern hospital for the insane, especially the many private and corporate homes, conducted as they are with the utmost humanity and skill, are not bastiles or prisons, furnishing only restraint behind the bars. Alien , and Neurol ., VII. 706. 4. A movable tower used by the besiegers of a strong place, whether for approaching the tion for the besiegers. walls (see belfry ) or as a defense and protec