[ 'klɔɪstə ]
■ noun
1》 a covered, and typically colonnaded, passage round an open court in a convent, monastery, college, or cathedral.
2》 a convent or monastery.
↘( the ~ ) monastic life.
■ verb seclude or shut up in a convent or monastery.
Derivatives
cloistral adjective
Origin
ME: from OFr. cloistre , from L. claustrum , clostrum 'lock, enclosed place', from claudere , 'to close'.