garrison

noun

gar·ri·son | \ ˈger-ə-sən

, ˈga-rə-\

Definition of garrison

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a military post especially : a permanent military installation

2 : the troops stationed at a garrison

garrison

verb

garrisoned; garrisoning\ ˈger-ə-s(ə-)niŋ

, ˈga-rə- \

Definition of garrison (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to station troops in

2a : to assign as a garrison

b : to occupy with troops

Garrison

biographical name

Gar·ri·son | \ ˈger-ə-sən

, ˈga-rə-sən\

Definition of Garrison (Entry 3 of 3)

William Lloyd 1805–1879 American abolitionist

Examples of garrison in a Sentence

Noun

a garrison of 5,000 men

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Hall believes the piece, a popular fox trot of the day, was performed in 1942 or ’43 by the prisoners in front of the commandant’s villa for Sunday concerts for Auschwitz garrison. — Jeff Karoub, The Seattle Times, "Michigan professor unearths inmates’ music from Auschwitz," 27 Nov. 2018 The disposition of the al-Tanf garrison in the south poses a special challenge. — Michael R. Gordon, WSJ, "A Small U.S. Base Gets in Iran’s Way—but Maybe Not for Long," 27 Dec. 2018 An Associated Press reporter and journalists from two other media organizations accompanied Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, to the garrison. — Lolita C. Baldor, The Seattle Times, "US general visits troops fighting Islamic State in Syria," 22 Oct. 2018 On Friday, the Pentagon made the effort more permanent by forming a short-range air defense battalion at an Army garrison in Ansbach. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "The U.S. Puts More Pieces on Europe's WWIII Chessboard," 10 Sep. 2018 In a similar instance last month, a New York restaurant worker was detained by ICE after delivering pasta to Fort Hamilton, a small Army garrison in Brooklyn. — Washington Post, BostonGlobe.com, "July 4th visit to their soldier son-in-law lands couple in ICE’s custody," 10 July 2018 The British built elaborate fortifications to protect the garrison and citizenry, and renamed York Castle as their citadel. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, "An Exhibition in Tangier Pays Tribute to Design World Darling Charles Sevigny," 3 Aug. 2018 The 35-year-old married father of two young girls was arrested June 1 while making a delivery to the garrison in Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn. — Washington Post, "Lawyers, family seek release of detained pizza deliveryman," 18 June 2018 The 35-year-old married father of two young girls was arrested on June 1 while making a delivery to the garrison in Fort Hamilton. — Verena Dobnik, The Seattle Times, "Federal judge temporarily blocks deportation of pizza worker," 9 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

A few days later, past midnight, a dozen outgunned American ships, including Juneau, intercepted a Japanese armada approaching the island to bombard its critical airfield and the beleaguered U.S. Marines garrisoned there. — Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, "The House is revolting," 25 May 2018 Brennan’s version of Moscow is Vershinin (a charismatic Chiké Johnson), commander of the troops garrisoned in town and quixotic seeker – in a play filled with them, each one given texture by Brown’s excellent ensemble – for the meaning of existence. — Mike Fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "'Three Sisters' yearn for a better life, against the odds," 14 Aug. 2017 A fortress built between the 11th and 14th century helped the friars withstand pirates, Saracen attacks and occupation by Spanish raiders, until Louis XIV garrisoned the island in the 1600s. — Jennifer Ladonne, CNN, "Cannes day trips: The island retreats of Îles de Lérins," 24 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'garrison.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for garrison

Noun

Middle English garisoun "wealth, gift, tribute, protection, fortified place, body of soldiers," borrowed from Anglo-French garisun "protection, cure, income, supplies," from garir "to support, protect, cure" (going back to Old Low Franconian *warjan "to defend, prevent," going back to Germanic *warjan-) + -isun, deverbal noun suffix, going back to Latin -ītiōn-, -ītiō, from -ī-, verb stem formative + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at weir

Note: The Middle English sense "fortified place, body of soldiers" reflects confusion with Middle English garnisoun and Anglo-French garnisun "fortified place, body of armed men stationed in such a place," from Anglo-French garnir "to give notice, equip, arm, fortify" (see garnish entry 1) + the same suffix seen in garisun.

Verb

derivative of garrison entry 1

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