doss-house

A man pays for a bed in a doss-house for the night.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A cheap, basic lodging house: "doss-house" refers to a very inexpensive, often run-down hostel or shelter that provides a place to sleep, especially for people who are homeless or have very little money. It is a British English term, now somewhat dated.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • After losing his job, he had no choice but to stay in a doss-house. (A very cheap, basic place to sleep for people with little money.)
  • The old doss-house on the corner was known for its poor conditions. (A run-down lodging house.)

Advanced Usage

• "doss-house" in historical context: The term was commonly used in 19th and early 20th century Britain to describe the cheapest form of accommodation for the urban poor, often associated with overcrowding and unsanitary conditions.

  • In Victorian London, many workers relied on doss-houses for a night's rest. (Historical reference to basic sleeping shelters.)

• "doss-house" as a metaphor: It can be used figuratively to describe any place that is extremely humble or disreputable.

  • That hotel was a doss-house; I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. (Used derogatorily to mean a very poor-quality place.)

Variants and Related Words

• Doss (verb): to sleep or spend the night in a casual or temporary place.

  • We can doss down on the floor if there's no room. (To sleep in a makeshift way.)

• Doss (noun): a place to sleep, especially a cheap or temporary one.

  • He found a doss for the night in a friend's shed. (A basic sleeping spot.)

Synonyms

• Hostel: a budget accommodation, often shared.
• Shelter: a place that provides temporary housing for the homeless.
• Flea pit: a colloquial term for a very cheap, dirty place to stay.
• Flophouse: the American English equivalent of "doss-house," meaning a cheap lodging house.

Related Idioms

• "To doss about" (British slang): to waste time or do nothing in particular.

  • He spent the whole day dossing about instead of working. (Loafing or idling.)

• "To doss off": to fall asleep quickly or casually.

  • After the long walk, he dossed off on the sofa. (He fell asleep easily.)

Note: The term "doss-house" is largely historical and informal; it is rarely used in modern polite conversation but may appear in literature or discussions about historical poverty.