hovel

[ huhv-uhl, hov- ]

noun

1. a small, very humble dwelling house; a wretched hut.
2. any dirty, disorganized dwelling.
3. an open shed, as for sheltering cattle or tools.

verb (used with object)

, hov·eled, hov·el·ing or (especially British) hov·elled, hov·el·ling.

1. to shelter or lodge as in a hovel.

hovel

/ ˈhʌvəl; ˈhɒv- /

noun

1. a ramshackle dwelling place
2. an open shed for livestock, carts, etc
3. the conical building enclosing a kiln

verb

1. to shelter or be sheltered in a hovel

Word History and Origins

Origin of hovel¹

1375–1425; late Middle English hovell, of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of hovel¹

C15: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

As for what was built at Cinecitta, two favorite sets for Gropman were Tom’s New York hovel and his well-appointed, furnished Rome apartment.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s designed like a dark little hovel. Who would want to live like that?”

From Los Angeles Times

Eventually they squeezed into a hovel before being discovered by a turncoat cabinet member.

From Salon

“It was like Travis Bickle’s apartment, but with no windows,” moaned Aster, 36, going off on a recent video call about his “total hovel” of a pandemic lockdown.

From New York Times

Where the $300 hovels seemed like a reasonable offer, or at least an affordable one?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cottage
• hut
• lean-to
• shack
• shanty