Definition

Noun: A simple building, often located in a remote or rural area, that provides basic overnight shelter and lodging for travelers, typically in places where commercial hotels are not available.

Usage

A "rest house" is a specific type of accommodation. It is used to refer to the building itself that offers shelter. * The weary hikers were grateful to find a rest house at the end of the mountain trail. * In some national parks, the only accommodation available is a basic rest house.

Advanced Usage

• Historically, "rest house" could refer to a type of inn or lodge along a trade route.
  • The old caravan route is dotted with ancient rest houses.
• The term can imply a building maintained by a local community or government for public use, rather than a private business.

Variants and Related Words

• Rest stop (noun): Primarily North American; usually refers to a roadside area with toilets and picnic facilities for drivers, but not typically offering enclosed shelter for overnight stays.
• Lodge (noun): A similar type of accommodation, but this term can apply to a wider range of buildings, from basic huts to large, comfortable hotels, often in rural or wilderness settings.
• Shelter (noun): A more general term for any structure that provides protection from the weather.

Synonyms

• Wayside inn
• Hostel (in a basic, rural context)
• Refuge (emphasizing safety and shelter)

Related Phrases

• To put up at a rest house: A phrase meaning to stay or lodge at a rest house.
  • We decided to put up at the rest house for the night.

Noun

1. a building used for shelter by travelers (especially in areas where there are no hotels)