Definition

Proper noun: * A historic fortification: Fort Ticonderoga is a large 18th-century star fort built by the French, located on the southern shore of Lake Champlain in New York, USA. It is historically significant for its strategic role in colonial conflicts. * A specific historical event: The name also refers to the capture of this fort by American forces in 1775, a pivotal early event in the American Revolutionary War.

Usage

• The term is used to refer to the physical location and landmark.
  • We visited Fort Ticonderoga on our trip through upstate New York.
• The term is used to refer to the historical battle or event.
  • The capture of Fort Ticonderoga provided the Continental Army with much-needed artillery.

Advanced Usage

• "The key to the continent": A historical phrase used to describe Fort Ticonderoga's immense strategic importance due to its location on the route between the British colonies and French Canada.
  • During the 18th century, Fort Ticonderoga was often called "the key to the continent."

Variants and Related Words

• Ticonderoga: Often used as a shorthand for the fort, and also used in other contexts (e.g., the brand name of pencils).
• Fort Carillon: The original name given to the fortification by the French when they built it.

Synonyms

• The Fort (when context is clear in historical discussion).
• The Garrison at Ticonderoga.

Related Phrases

• Capture of Fort Ticonderoga: The specific military action on May 10, 1775, led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold.
• Siege of Ticonderoga (1777): A subsequent British campaign that resulted in the fort's recapture.

Noun

1. a pitched battle in which American revolutionary troops captured Fort Ticonderoga from the British in 1775