Stalag

/ˈstɑːˌlɑːɡ/ noun

Definition

A German military prison camp, especially one used during World War II to hold enemy soldiers.

Etymology

From German 'Stammlager,' combining 'Stamm' (main or base) and 'Lager' (camp). The abbreviated form 'Stalag' was used by the Germans themselves and became common in English during WWII.

Kelly Says

Stalag camps were brutal prisoner-of-war camps where conditions were often horrific, and many famous escape stories come from them—'The Great Escape' took place at Stalag Luft III, and it became the template for every WWII escape movie that followed.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.