Hoosegow: meaning, definitions and examples

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hoosegow

 

[ huหsษกaสŠ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

slang term

Hoosegow is a slang term that refers to jail or prison. It is often used in informal conversations and has its origins in Western American slang.

Synonyms

cell, jail, lockup, prison

Examples of usage

  • He was thrown into the hoosegow for the weekend.
  • Don't get caught, or you might end up in the hoosegow.
  • I heard he spent some time in the hoosegow for petty theft.

Translations

Translations of the word "hoosegow" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น prisรฃo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคœเฅ‡เคฒ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Gefรคngnis

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ penjara

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒ'ัะทะฝะธั†ั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ wiฤ™zienie

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅˆ‘ๅ‹™ๆ‰€

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท prison

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ cรกrcel

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท hapishane

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ต๋„์†Œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุณุฌู†

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ vฤ›zenรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ vรคzenie

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็›‘็‹ฑ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zapor

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ fangelsi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั‚าฏัั–ะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ™แƒแƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ hษ™bsxana

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ cรกrcel

Etymology

The word 'hoosegow' is derived from the Spanish word 'juzgado', which means 'courthouse'. It began to be used in American English in the late 19th century, particularly in the contexts of the American West. The term was popularized by cowboys and outlaws who frequently had run-ins with the law. Its use has become more informal and colloquial over time, primarily associated with a lighthearted or humorous connotation. Hoosegow epitomizes the spirit of frontier slang, capturing the essence of Western culture and the life of those living outside the law.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,851, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.