The place or cell where an anchorite or anchoress lived; a hermitage or small dwelling attached to a church where a religious recluse dwelt.
From 'anchor' (meaning to be fixed/anchored) plus 'hold' (a place or dwelling). This practical compound term was used in medieval English to describe the physical structure that housed religious recluses who were, in a sense, anchored to that location.
Archaeology has excavated several anchorholds in England, revealing tiny cells (often just 12 by 14 feet) with small windows—studying these spaces shows how people voluntarily chose extreme physical confinement for spiritual purposes, which tells us a lot about medieval values and beliefs!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.