Pris"on (?; 277), n. [F., fr. L. prehensio, prensio, a seizing,
arresting, fr. prehendre, prendere, to lay hold of, to seize. See
Prehensile, and cf. Prize, n., Misprision.] 1. A place where persons
are confined, or restrained of personal liberty; hence, a place or
state o&?; confinement, restraint, or safe custody.
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name.
Ps. cxlii. 7.
The tyrant ∆olus, . . . 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.
Prison bars, or Prison base. See Base, n., 24. -- Prison breach. (Law)
See Note under 3d Escape, n., 4. -- Prison house, a prison. Shak. --
Prison ship (Naut.), a ship fitted up for the confinement of prisoners.
-- Prison van, a carriage in which prisoners are conveyed to and from
prison.
Pris"on, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prisoned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prisoning.]
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.
Shak.