The Spanish word 'bastión' (meaning 'bastion' or 'fortification') has an interesting journey through European languages. It originated from the Germanic word 'basjan' which meant 'to sew or stitch.' This word evolved into the Provençal 'bastire' meaning 'to build,' showing how the meaning shifted from joining things together through sewing to joining materials in construction. The word then moved into Italian as 'bastione' meaning 'bastion' or 'fortification,' before finally entering Spanish as 'bastión' with the same meaning. This evolution shows how a word for a basic craft activity (sewing) developed into a term for sophisticated military architecture.

A related Spanish word is 'bastimento' (provisions, supplies), which comes from the same Provençal root 'bastire.' While 'bastión' developed to refer to the physical fortification, 'bastimento' took on the meaning of supplies needed to maintain and support a fortified position.

The English word 'bastion' is a direct cognate of the Spanish 'bastión,' having followed the same etymological path. English also has related words like 'baste' (to sew with long loose stitches), which preserves the original Germanic meaning of sewing or stitching. This connection between 'baste' and 'bastion' shows how words from the same root can develop very different meanings over time.