Other forms: redoubts
A redoubt is a small fort built to hold one position. A hilltop redoubt, storm the redoubt, the last redoubt.
It stands alone rather than forming part of a line, which is what distinguishes it, and it is built to be held by a small force. Figuratively, the last redoubt is the final position somebody defends in an argument. Note the b, which was added by a false connection with doubt and was never pronounced.
1nounredoubtA small fort built to hold one position.
“The soldiers built a redoubt of earth and logs to guard the river crossing.”
redoubt is a fortification.
French redoute comes from Italian ridotta, a refuge, from Latin reducere, to withdraw. The b was added by a false link with doubt.
Latin
redūcō — to withdraw
Medieval Latin
reductus — refuge
Italian
ridotta
French
redoute
English, today
redoubt
From French redoute, from Italian ridotta, from Medieval Latin reductus (“refuge”), from Latin redūcō (“to withdraw”), with spelling influenced by doubt.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA