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salt-box

or salt·box

[sawlt-boks]
See more synonyms for salt-box on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a box in which salt is kept.
  2. a type of house found especially in New England, generally two full stories high in front and one story high in back, the roof having about the same pitch in both directions so that the ridge is well toward the front of the house.
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Origin of salt-box

First recorded in 1605–15
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for salt-box

Historical Examples

  • Your salt-box must have a close cover, and be kept in a dry place.

    The Cook's Oracle; and Housekeeper's Manual

    William Kitchiner

  • Beatrice, being on kitchen duty, had access to the salt-box.

  • What payment could he offer, he who could scarcely find the coins to fill his salt-box or to mend his surplice?

    The Waters of Edera

    Louise de la Rame, a.k.a. Ouida

  • A periodical published at Eton many years ago for circulation amongst the boys was called The Salt-box.

    The Slang Dictionary

    John Camden Hotten

  • A salt-box on the table, into which many fingers had been dipped was brought us; the old woman said we were "lucky to get that."

Word Origin and History for salt-box

n.

also saltbox, "receptacle for keeping salt for domestic use," 1610s, from salt (n.) + box (n.). As a type of frame house, 1876, so called from resemblance of shape.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper