sweatbox

[ swet-boks ]

noun

1. a sauna or other enclosure for sweating.
2. any uncomfortably warm room or environment.
3. a box or cell in which a prisoner is punished or given the third degree.
4. a device for removing moisture from tobacco leaves, figs, raisins, etc.

sweatbox

/ ˈswɛtˌbɒks /

noun

1. a device for causing tobacco leaves, fruit, or hides to sweat
2. a very small pen or cubicle where a pig is fattened intensively
3. informal.
   a narrow room or cell for a prisoner
4. informal.
   any place where a person sweats on account of confinement, heat, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of sweatbox¹

First recorded in 1870–75; sweat + box ¹

Example Sentences

England subjected themselves to the subcontinent sweatbox and watched their World Cup dreams begin to melt away.

From BBC

Friday’s second most dangerous band, Acid Tongue, turned Neumos into a veritable sweatbox burning with good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll adrenaline.

From Seattle Times

In this rickety sweatbox club, several micro-generations of musicians divined an experimental fusion of hip-hop, electronic, jazz, R&B and psychedelia.

From Los Angeles Times

The kitchen was overly warm when Ophie entered, the oven turning the space into a sweatbox.

From Literature

It’s the last day of June and 03 Greedo is on the other end of the phone speaking from inside a sweatbox Texas state prison where he’s spent the last two years.

From Washington Post