Prison

(prĭz'n) (Synop., § 130), n. [Fr. prison, O. Fr. prison, prisun, prisune, Pr. preisō, Sp. prision, It. prigione, from Lat. prehensio, prensio, a seizing, arresting, from prehendere, prendere, to lay hold of, to seize; A-S. prisun, Icel. prisund.]

1Sense 1. A building for the confinement or safe custody of debtors and criminals committed by process of law; a place of safe custody; a place of confinement or restraint.

The tyrant Æolus, With power imperial, curbs the struggling winds, And sounding tempests in dark prison binds. Dryden.

2Sense 2. Specifically, a building for the safe custody or confinement of criminals or those accused of crime; a house of detention; a jail; hence, any place of custody or confinement.

For those rebellious, here their prison ordained In utter darkness. Milton.