Doghouses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small, enclosed shelter often located outside, intended for providing protection and comfort to pet dogs from weather conditions
2. An outdoor structure commonly used to house dogs, featuring a roof and entrance for their safety and well-being
3. A compact building designed for dogs to rest and be shielded from the elements

Etymology: "Doghouses" is simply the plural of "doghouse", a compound formed from "dog" and "house". Both parts are native English: "dog" and "house" have been part of the language since Old English, so the compound needed no borrowing from another tongue. The plural adds the usual "-s" ending. The sense is literal and unchanged from the start. A doghouse is exactly what the two words say, a small house for a dog, and the word has kept that meaning without any dramatic shift. Its figurative uses, such as being "in the doghouse" for being in disfavour, come from the same compound but are a separate extension of the phrase.

Synonyms: kennels, shelters