Bakehouse: meaning, definitions and examples
🍞
bakehouse
[ ˈbeɪkhaʊs ]
place for baking
A bakehouse is a place where bread, pastries, and other baked goods are made. It can refer to a bakery or a specific room in a building used for baking. Traditionally, bakehouses have been community hubs for bread production.
Synonyms
bakery, bread shop, oven, pastry shop.
Examples of usage
- The village's bakehouse produces the best sourdough bread.
- She works at the local bakehouse every Saturday.
- The community bakehouse offers classes on bread-making.
- In the middle ages, many households had a shared bakehouse.
Etymology
The term 'bakehouse' originates from the combination of the Middle English word 'bake', derived from the Old English 'bacan', meaning to cook or bake, and 'house', which refers to a building or structure. Historically, baking was often done in communal settings, providing sustenance for entire communities. In medieval Europe, bakehouses were important sites where bakers would prepare bread for local inhabitants. The rise of individualized homes often included private ovens, but the community bakehouse remained a staple in many towns. Today, the bakehouse idea has evolved into modern bakeries that still serve as community gathering points, continuing the tradition of bringing people together through the joy of baked goods.