dosshouse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1informal, colloquial, potentially derogatory
Quick answer
What does “dosshouse” mean?
A cheap, run-down lodging house offering very basic accommodation, often for homeless or destitute people.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cheap, run-down lodging house offering very basic accommodation, often for homeless or destitute people.
Informally, any place that is extremely untidy, squalid, or provides very poor-quality accommodation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily British/Irish. The closest common American equivalent is 'flophouse' or 'flop house'.
Connotations
Both 'doss-house' and 'flophouse' carry strong negative connotations of seediness and poverty.
Frequency
Used in UK/Irish English. Rare in modern American English, where 'flophouse' is more recognisable.
Grammar
How to Use “dosshouse” in a Sentence
The [ADJECTIVE] doss-houseHe dossed [PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE] a doss-houseIt's [COPULA] a doss-houseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dosshouse” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He used to doss in that house by the river.
- I'll just doss here for the night.
American English
- He used to flop in that house by the river.
- I'll just crash here for the night.
adverb
British English
- He lived doss-house style for years.
American English
- He lived flophouse style for years.
adjective
British English
- The room had a doss-house feel to it.
- He lived a doss-house existence.
American English
- The room had a flophouse feel to it.
- He lived a flophouse existence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in historical/sociological contexts discussing poverty and urban living conditions.
Everyday
Used informally to criticise a very messy or run-down living space.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dosshouse”
- Spelling as one word 'dosshouse' (though common, standard is hyphenated).
- Using in formal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It derives from late 18th-century slang 'doss', meaning a bed, especially a cheap one in a lodging house, possibly from 'dorsey' (bed) or related to 'dorse' (back).
It can be perceived as derogatory or dismissive towards those in poverty, so caution is advised in sensitive contexts.
While commonly seen, most standard dictionaries list it as hyphenated: 'doss-house'.
Yes, informally it can be used hyperbolically to describe a very messy room or house, e.g., 'Your bedroom is a complete doss-house!'
A cheap, run-down lodging house offering very basic accommodation, often for homeless or destitute people.
Dosshouse is usually informal, colloquial, potentially derogatory in register.
Dosshouse: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɒs haʊs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “live like a doss-house rat”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine DOSSing down (sleeping) in a HOUSE that's falling apart.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BUILDING IS A PERSON (derelict, low-status); A HOME IS A CONTAINER (for poverty and decay).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is the closest American English synonym for 'doss-house'?