calaboose

[prettygoodword]

calaboose (KAL-uh-boos, kal-uh-BOOS) - n., (U.S. regional) jail.


Or, if you prefer, gaol. Especially a local jail, such as a town or county lockup. It's an old one, too -- first attested in 1792, borrowed from Louisiana French calabouse, from Spanish calabozo, dungeon, after which the trail disappears into the etymological undergrowth.

---L.

Comments

[paulakate.livejournal.com]

That's almost as good as hoosegow ...

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

I've been defining it as a hoosegow, in fact.

---L.