hoosegow

or hoos·gow

[ hoos-gou ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a jail.

hoosegow

/ ˈhuːsɡaʊ /

noun

1. a slang word for jail

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoosegow¹

1860–65, Americanism; < Mexican Spanish jusgado jail ( Spanish: court of justice, originally past participle of juzgar to judge) < Latin jūdicātum, equivalent to jūdic- (stem of jūdex ) judge + -ātum -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoosegow¹

C20: from Mexican Spanish jusgado prison, from Spanish: court of justice, from juzgar to judge, from Latin judicāre, from judex a judge ; compare jug

Example Sentences

A Rochester, New York pawn shop owner is headed to the hoosegow after selling more than $6 million in goods stolen from area retailers on Amazon and eBay, the U.S.

From Washington Times

In prison, there are Keene’s encounters with a real-life mob boss and a manipulative guard to add tension, and just enough mayhem to remind you that this is no ordinary hoosegow.

From Los Angeles Times

See who got away with their ill-gotten gains and who got sent to the hoosegow in the new docuseries “Super Heists.”

From Los Angeles Times

He was tackled by a gendarme in the paint on the 76ers’ half of the court, unceremoniously picked up and hustled down a Capital One Arena tunnel and, hopefully, to the nearest hoosegow.

From Washington Post

Even a picture of me holding the very Trump piñata head that currently put me in the digital hoosegow.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• penitentiary