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

/ ˈhɒv-; ˈhʌvəl /

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

Pat has been living in this high-life hovel since 2008, when our mutual friend John Nicoletta convinced a couple of real estate developers to let local skids live in the building until it was torn down, which, back then, was supposed to be imminent.

From Outside Online

When we first meet Bob, Tomlinson treats us to a description of the hovel in which he lives.

From The Daily Beast

"She works out of a hovel, it is a broken-down building, just a shack," she said.

From The Daily Beast

Alessandro's face haunted him, and also the memory of Ramona's, as she lay tossing and moaning in the wretched Cahuilla hovel.

From Project Gutenberg

For several days previous, I had been actively engaged in building my own little room, and making our hovel comfortable.

From Project Gutenberg

Maria and Sebastian were brought up in a hovel with a mud floor, and only one room, shared with the donkey and the goat.

From Project Gutenberg

Kent, still unrecognized by Lear, endeavors to persuade him to take refuge in a hovel.

From Project Gutenberg

A woman was at the entrance to our hovel, looking down full at us.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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