This is a Spanish word that at one time was used by Filipinos regularly enough when Spain’s influence on the native vocabulary was stronger.
Students in the Philippines these days mostly just encounter this word in literary works, such as in the poet’s closing signature in Isang Dipang Langit.
bartolina
dungeon
bilangguan
jail
nakakulong na sa bilangguan
now imprisoned in jail
bartolinang maliit
small jail
The word is now taken to mean prison or jail.
KAHULUGAN SA TAGALOG
bartolína: bilangguang madilim, makipot, at ligíd ng pader, karaniwang para sa may mabibigat na kasalanan
