Flophouse

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈflɒphaʊs/

Definitions

1. A budget-friendly establishment that caters to travelers seeking affordable, basic overnight stays with limited amenities
2. A low-cost lodging option that typically lacks frills and is frequented by those requiring temporary shelter
3. A cheap place to stay offering very basic rooms usually without private facilities

Etymology: The word is American hobo slang, and its first half describes what guests did there. "Flop" in this sense meant to lie down to sleep, so a flophouse was simply a house where you could flop down for the night. The verb's exact origin is uncertain, but it is the source of the slang use that gave the word its shape. The compound follows a common pattern: a plain verb in slang use joined to the ordinary noun "house." Its appeal lay in its bluntness. Rather than naming a hotel or lodging, the word described the single thing a customer bought, a place to lie down.

Synonyms: doss house, shelter, hostel