hoosegow
pronunciation
How to pronounce hoosegow in British English:
UK ['hu:sgaʊ]
How to pronounce hoosegow in American English:
US ['husgaʊ]
-
- Noun:
- a slang term for a jail
Word Origin
- hoosegow (n.)
- "jail," 1911, western U.S., probably from mispronunciation of Mexican Spanish juzgao "tribunal, court," from juzgar "to judge," used as a noun, from Latin judicare "to judge," which is related to judicem (see judge (v.)).
Example
- 1. Here 's a reckless prediction for you : the imf will not handle the european debt crisis any less efficiently because dominique strauss-kahn is sitting in the hoosegow , sans bail , on sexual-assault charges .
- 2. No professor wants to hear about how your grandfather just died ( even if it 's true-which it never is ) , how your jeep got totaled , or why you just spent three days in the hoosegow .