poorhouse

[ poor-hous ]

noun

, plural poor·hous·es [poor, -hou-ziz].

1. (formerly) an institution in which paupers were maintained at public expense.

poorhouse

/ ˈpɔː-; ˈpʊəˌhaʊs /

noun

1. (formerly) a publicly maintained institution offering accommodation to the poor

Word History and Origins

Origin of poorhouse¹

First recorded in 1735–45; poor + house

Example Sentences

The closure of poorhouses shifted that burden onto hospitals.

From ProPublica

For these people, under the older dispensation, there was nothing but the poorhouse, the jail or starvation by the roadside.

From Project Gutenberg

I don't much like to say the poorhouse, where I was took after my folks died, and I hate to say Mrs. Stott's truck-farm.

From Project Gutenberg

When we arrived at Posen we took up our quarters in the Jewish poorhouse, the master of which was a poor jobbing tailor.

From Project Gutenberg

But it would mean all the difference between penury and dread of the poorhouse on the one hand and safety on the other to David.

From Project Gutenberg

In a few weeks, they got on so well that they began to take their relations and friends out of that terrible poorhouse.

From Project Gutenberg