ETYM French, from fort strong, Latin fortis; perh. akin to Skr. darh to fix, make firm, and to Eng. firm Cf. Forte, Force, Fortalice, Comfort, Effort.
A strong or fortified place; usually, a small fortified place, occupied only by troops, surrounded with a ditch, rampart, and parapet, or with palisades, stockades, or other means of defense; a fortification.

(Homonym: forte).
1. To gather in, or as if in, a fort, as for protection or defense; SYN. fort up.
2. To station in a fort, as of troops.