Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Prison

Prison (?; 277) , noun

[French, from Latin prehensio, prensio, a seizing, arresting, from prehendre, prendere, to lay hold of, to seize. See Prehensile, and compare Prize, n., Misprision.]

1.
A place where persons are confined, or restrained of personal liberty; hence, a place or state o{not transcribed} confinement, restraint, or safe custody.
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name. — Bible (KJV) - Psalm cxlii. 7
The tyrant Aeolus,... With power imperial, curbs the struggling winds, And sounding tempests in dark prisons binds. — Dryden
2.
Specifically, a building for the safe custody or confinement of criminals and others committed by lawful authority.
Collocations (5)
Prison bars or Prison base , See Base, n., 24.
Prison breach (Law) , See Note under 3d Escape, n., 4.
Prison house , a prison. — Shakespeare
Prison ship (Nautical) , a ship fitted up for the confinement of prisoners.
Prison van , a carriage in which prisoners are conveyed to and from prison.

Prison , transitive verb

1.
To imprison; to shut up in, or as in, a prison; to confine; to restrain from liberty.
The prisoned eagle dies for rage. — Sir W. Scott
His true respect will prison false desire. — Shakespeare
2.
To bind (together); to enchain. [Obsolete]
Sir William Crispyn with the duke was led Together prisoned. — Robert of Brunne