n. & v.
n. 1 a place in which a person is kept in captivity, esp. a building to which persons are legally committed while awaiting trial or for punishment; a jail. 2 custody, confinement (in prison).
v.tr. poet. (prisoned, prisoning) put in prison. prison-breaking escape from prison. prison camp a camp for prisoners of war or of State.
[ ME f. OF prisun, -on f. L prensio -onis f. prehensio f. prehendere prehens- lay hold of ]