Fort \Fort\, n. [F., from fort strong, L. fortis; perh. akin to Skr. darh to fix, make firm, and to E. firm Cf. Forte, Force, Fortalice, Comfort, Effort.]

(Mil.) 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.

Detached works, depending solely on their own strength, belong to the class of works termed forts. --Farrow.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)