A fortress or secure place; a place where a particular belief or activity is strongly defended or prevalent.
From Middle English, combining 'strong' + 'hold' (grasp, fortress). The compound emerged in the 15th century, originally meaning a fortified place, later extending to metaphorical bastions of ideas or traditions.
Medieval strongholds were designed with concentric defenses - outer walls, inner keeps, and final refuges. Today's metaphorical strongholds work the same way: a political stronghold has layers of voter loyalty, institutional support, and cultural reinforcement protecting core beliefs.
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