- poorhouse
- noun Date: 1792 a place maintained at public expense to house needy or dependent persons
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
poorhouse
Look at other dictionaries:
Poorhouse — Poor house , n. A dwelling for a number of paupers maintained at public expense; an almshouse; a workhouse. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
poorhouse — (n.) 1781, from POOR (Cf. poor) + HOUSE (Cf. house) (n.) … Etymology dictionary
poorhouse — [poor′hous΄] n. Historical a house or institution for paupers, supported from public funds … English World dictionary
poorhouse — UK [ˈpɔː(r)ˌhaʊs] / UK [ˈpʊə(r)ˌhaʊs] / US [ˈpʊrˌhaʊs] noun Word forms poorhouse : singular poorhouse plural poorhouses 1) [countable] in the past, a place provided for very poor people who had no homes and were unable to feed themselves 2) the… … English dictionary
Poorhouse — A poorhouse or workhouse is a government run facility for the support and housing of dependent or needy persons, typically run by a local government entity such as a county or municipality. In Victorian times (for Britain see Poor Law and… … Wikipedia
poorhouse — poor|house [ pur,haus ] noun 1. ) count in the past, a place provided for very poor people who had no homes and were unable to feed themselves 2. ) the poorhouse the state of not having any money: If we keep spending money like this, we ll end up … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
poorhouse — [[t]pʊ͟ə(r)haʊs, pɔ͟ː(r) [/t]] poorhouses also poor house N COUNT: usu the N In former times in Britain, a poorhouse was an institution in which poor people could live. It was paid for by the public. I was certain I was on the brink of poverty,… … English dictionary
poorhouse — poor|house [ˈpo:haus US ˈpur ] n 1.) the state of not having any money ▪ If Jimmy keeps spending like this, he s going to end up in the poorhouse . 2.) a building where very poor people in the past could live and be fed, which was paid for with… … Dictionary of contemporary English
poorhouse — /poor hows /, n., pl. poorhouses / how ziz/. (formerly) an institution in which paupers were maintained at public expense. [1735 45; POOR + HOUSE] * * * … Universalium
poorhouse — noun a) A charitable institution where poor or homeless people are lodged b) A workhouse … Wiktionary
