hut

American  

[huht] / hʌt /

noun

1. a small or humble dwelling of simple construction, especially one made of natural materials, as of logs or grass.

   Synonyms:

   hovel, shed

2. a simple roofed shelter, often with one or two sides left open.

3. Military. a wooden or metal structure for the temporary housing of troops.

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verb (used with object)

hutted, hutting

1. to furnish with a hut as temporary housing; billet.

verb (used without object)

hutted, hutting

1. to lodge or take a shelter in a hut.

hut British  

/ hʌt /

noun

1. a small house or shelter, usually made of wood or metal

2. (on a sheep or cattle station) accommodation for the shearers, stockmen, etc

3. a shelter for mountaineers, skiers, etc

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verb

1. to furnish with or live in a hut

Other Word Forms

• hutlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hut

1645–55; < French hutte < Frankish, cognate with Old Saxon hutta, Old High German hutt ( e ) a < West Germanic *hudjā; akin to hide ¹

Explanation

If you've ever camped under a wooden lean-to, you know what a hut is — it's a simple, usually temporary shelter that doesn't do much more than keep the rain off your head. A hut can be built from many different materials, including wood, stone, snow, or even cardboard. What all huts have in common is a simple design and the intention that it provide a short-term shelter from the weather. Campers, hikers, and skiers often rest or sleep in huts. The word comes from the French hutte, "cottage," which has its root in the Old English word for "to hide," hydan. Hut was originally used in English to describe military dwellings.

Example Sentences

Pizza brands like Papa John’s and Pizza Hut that bought NFTs for promotional purposes likewise failed to see their value appreciate.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

Other rooms downstairs include the B-Movie Bathroom, ’Naynay’s Kitchen of Progress and the ’80s & ’90s Food Culture Hall of Fame dining room, which is illuminated by a Pizza Hut pendant.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

TeraWulf jumped 3.3% and Hut 8 climbed 4%.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Yum Brands, whose chains include Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, last year announced a partnership with the chip giant Nvidia to develop AI tools for its restaurants.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

We don’t have school on Monday because of Veterans Day, and the Pet Hut is closed.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

Related Words

• box
• bungalow
• cabin
• chalet
• cot
• cottage
• hovel
• lean-to
• lodge
• shack
• shanty
• shed
• shelter
• summer house