calaboose

[ kal-uh-boos, kal-uh-boos ]
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nounSlang.
  1. jail; prison; lockup.

Origin of calaboose

1
An Americanism dating back to 1785–95; from Louisiana French calabouse, from Spanish calabozo “dungeon,” of obscure origin

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British Dictionary definitions for calaboose

calaboose

/ (ˈkæləˌbuːs) /


noun
  1. US informal a prison; jail

Origin of calaboose

1
C18: from Creole French, from Spanish calabozo dungeon, of unknown origin

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