Doghouse

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A structure built to shelter a domestic canine, typically positioned in a yard or outdoor area
2. A dwelling specifically intended for a pet dog, commonly found in an outdoor setting, providing a safe haven from environmental elements
3. A small outdoor shelter designed to accommodate a pet canine, offering protection from weather conditions and ensuring comfort in its environment

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "doghouse" is how little it has changed: it is a plain compound of "dog" and "house," and it meant exactly what it does now, a small shelter for a dog. The sense of being in someone's bad books, as in being "in the doghouse," grew out of that picture of a dog banished to its shelter after misbehaving, but that figurative use is a later extension of the literal meaning. Because both parts are ordinary English words, the term needs no borrowing from another language. "Dog" is an old native word, and "house" is likewise native, so the compound was built from familiar material. The result is a transparent word whose parts tell you its meaning directly.

Synonyms: kennel