roundhouse

American  

[round-hous] / ˈraʊndˌhaʊs /

noun

plural

roundhouses

1. a building for the servicing and repair of locomotives, built around a turntable in the form of some part of a circle.

2. Nautical. a cabin on the after part of a quarterdeck.

3. Slang. a punch in which the arm is typically brought straight out to the side or rear of the body and in which the fist describes an exaggerated circular motion.

4. Also called round trip.  Pinochle. a meld of one king and queen of each suit.

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roundhouse British  

/ ˈraʊndˌhaʊs /

noun

1. a circular building in which railway locomotives are serviced or housed, radial tracks being fed by a central turntable

2. slang boxing

   1. a swinging punch or style of punching

   2. ( as modifier )

      a roundhouse style

3. pinochle a meld of all four kings and queens

4. an obsolete word for jail

5. obsolete a cabin on the quarterdeck of a sailing ship

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Etymology

Origin of roundhouse

First recorded in 1580–90; round ¹ + house

Example Sentences

Further samples in the coming months will determine if the cistern dates back to the same period as the roundhouses.

From BBC

They learn to throw straight punches, elbow strikes, knee strikes and roundhouse kicks.

From Los Angeles Times

Celtic roundhouses and a prince's court are among the ancient buildings found in this green and quiet corner of the capital.

From BBC

The artefacts were unearthed at a Bronze Age settlement of wooden roundhouses built over a river channel at Must Farm at Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire.

From BBC

Each roundhouse roof had three layers: insulating straw topped by turf and completed with clay -- making them warm and waterproof but still well ventilated.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• bat
• blow
• punch
• shot
• swing