panel house

noun

1. a brothel having rooms with secret entrances, as sliding panels, for admitting panel thieves.

Word History and Origins

Origin of panel house¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Example Sentences

Sometimes he degenerates into a burglar or common thief, sometimes he becomes the proprietor of a panel house or a policy office.

From Project Gutenberg

This broke the panel-house keepers' backbone and they never recovered to resume business again.

From Project Gutenberg

But they had to have some distinctive appellation, and "panel house" is a convenient generic term.

From Project Gutenberg