bastion
Fortified projecting structure
A bastion is literally a projection on a fort but it is rarely used in this meaning.
Instead, it is nearly always followed by of in a phrase that exemplifies its figurative meaning: something that is seen as preserving, protecting, or defending some quality or condition, such as a bastion of freedom or a bastion of conservatism.
The connotation of bastion may be positive or negative, depending on what is being preserved: a bastion of male privilege will probably be looked on less favorably than the last bastion of high culture in the country.
Fortified urban stronghold
- castleFortified medieval residence
- rampartFortified defensive wall
- bulwarkDefensive fortification or safeguard
- redoubtEnclosed temporary fortification
garrison · bunker · acropolis · blockhouse · battlement · watchtower · keep · palisade
Castle's enclosed courtyard
- keepRetain or fortified tower
- barbicanOuter defensive tower
- battlementToothed fortress wall crown
- portcullisVertical sliding castle gate
moat · drawbridge · turret · watchtower · parapet · gatehouse · embrasure · casemate
Handheld defensive armor
- protectKeep from harm
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- guardWatchful defensive attention
- bulwarkDefensive fortification or safeguard
resist · withstand · holdout · repel · defensive · rampart · entrenchment · garrison
Place of safety
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- bulwarkDefensive fortification or safeguard
- pillarUpright architectural support
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
defender · champion · upholder · anchor · cornerstone · mainstay · stalwart · citadel
Inherited cultural legacy
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- custodianGuardian of a place
stewardship · guardian · keeper · protector · repository · refuge · haven · enclave
citadel
Fortified urban stronghold
- castleFortified medieval residence
- rampartFortified defensive wall
- bulwarkDefensive fortification or safeguard
redoubt · garrison · bunker · acropolis · blockhouse · battlement · watchtower · keep · palisade · turret
bailey
Castle's enclosed courtyard
- keepRetain or fortified tower
- barbicanOuter defensive tower
- battlementToothed fortress wall crown
portcullis · moat · drawbridge · turret · watchtower · parapet · gatehouse · embrasure · casemate · donjon
shield
Handheld defensive armor
bulwark · resist · withstand · holdout · repel · defensive · rampart · entrenchment · garrison · strongpoint
refuge
Place of safety
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- bulwarkDefensive fortification or safeguard
- pillarUpright architectural support
guardian · defender · champion · upholder · anchor · cornerstone · mainstay · stalwart · citadel · haven
heritage
Inherited cultural legacy
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
custodian · stewardship · guardian · keeper · protector · repository · refuge · haven · enclave · last refuge
- Roman fortsfort, fortress, frontier fort, military camp, stone fort
- castleskeep, moat, drawbridge, dungeon, turret
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- castle historymoat, drawbridge, keep, tower, battlements
- castle partsmoat, keep, drawbridge, battlement, tower
- defenseswall, walls, fence, gate, barrier
bastionvulnerability
Openness to harm
weakness · breach · open field · weak point · soft target
bastionbreeding ground
Place where something proliferates
sellout · hotbed · enemy territory · erosion · threat