Alcatraz
noun/ˈælkətræz/
/ˈælkətræz/
- a small US island near San Francisco where there is a former prison
- The clinic felt like Alcatraz. There was no escape.
CultureThe island was known as ‘the Rock’. The prison was used from 1934 to 1963 for the country's most dangerous prisoners, including Al Capone. It is now a popular tourist attraction.Word Originfrom Spanish alcatraz ‘pelicans’, which were once common there.Want to learn more?
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Alcatraz