housebreak

[ hous-breyk ]

verb (used with object)

housebroke, housebroken, housebreaking.

1. to train (a pet) to excrete outdoors or in a specific place.

Word History and Origins

Origin of housebreak¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; house + break

Example Sentences

Thanks to this bin they’ll be easy to find when I need to put down a dropcloth, light the charcoal grill or housebreak a puppy.

From Washington Post

Women are being urged to take on more work, learning and implementing tips and tricks to housebreak the father of their children like a pet.

From Salon

He would in effect housebreak them, he suggested, checking their worst instincts.

From New York Times

Walsh is also being charged with burglary in connection to a Feb. 19 Investigation into a local housebreak.

From Seattle Times

Police say Ostrander was being pursued because he was a suspect in a housebreak and was driving 60 mph when he struck Auburn Officer Luis Santos as he was deploying tire-deflation devices.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• abduct
• divert
• embezzle
• keep
• kidnap
• loot
• pilfer
• plunder
• ransack
• remove
• strip
• swipe
• take