Bergfried

Meaning

keep, donjon, bergfried (main defensive tower of a castle or fortress, located within the castle walls, often free-standing)

Concepts

keep

cell

dungeon

inner citadel

Synonyms

Berchfrit

Kerker

Verlies

Hauptburg

Donjon

Translations

donjon

calabós

homenatge

masmorra

torre mestra

torre de l'homenatge

donjon

μπουντρούμι

κεντρικός πύργος

cachot

oubliette

prison

beffroi

maschio

♂️

torrione

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbɛʁkˌfʁiːt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle High German: bercvrit

Cognate with English: belfry

In summary

From Middle High German bercvrit, bervrit, bervride. Further etymology unknown. A common folk etymology is the derivation from bergen (“to protect”) and Frieden (“peace”). Cognate with English belfry.