PANOPTICON


Meaning of PANOPTICON in English

[ pan'ɒptɪk(ə)n ]

■ noun historical a circular prison with cells arranged around a central well, from which prisoners could at all times be observed.

Origin

C18: from pan- + Gk optikon , neut. of optikos 'optic'.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.