Bungalows

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of single-story dwelling often featuring a wide veranda and spacious layout, typically found in suburban areas
2. A style of house designed with a single level, often characterized by a low roof and eaves, blending indoor and outdoor living spaces
3. A residential structure that is usually compact and one-story, designed for easy accessibility and incorporating elements like porches or gardens

Etymology: "Bungalows" is the plural of "bungalow," a noun for a single-story house. The singular comes from Gujarati "baṅglo," which described a house in the Bengali style, a detached dwelling set within a garden or open land. The name traces back to Bengal itself: Hindi "baṅglā" meant "Bengali," and Bengali "baṅla" meant "Bengal." So the word is essentially a regional label that travelled with the house type. British colonial officials and traders in India adopted the term and brought it back to Britain, where it came to mean any low, one-storey home with a veranda-like feel. The house design was suited to a warm climate, which is part of why the name stuck to a particular kind of building rather than to a place.

Synonyms: cottages, houses, homes, chalets, cabins