ˈsid.əd ə l, -itə-, -ˌdel noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French citadelle, from Old Italian cittadella, diminutive of cittade city, from Latin civitat-, civitas — more at city
1. : a fortress that commands a city both for control and defense ; broadly : a strong fortress : stronghold
2. archaic : the protected central structure in heavily armored ships of war that contains the engines, boilers, magazines and in and upon which the broadside battery is mounted
3. : a mission hall of the Salvation Army