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calaboose

[ kal-uh-boos, kal-uh-boos ]

/ ˈkæl əˌbus, ˌkæl əˈbus /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR calaboose ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Slang.

jail; prison; lockup.

Origin of calaboose

1785–95, Americanism; (< North American F) < Spanish calabozo dungeon, of obscure origin

Words nearby calaboose

calabar bean, calabash, calabaza, calabazilla, calabogus, calaboose, calabrasella, calabrese, calabria, calabrian, caladium

Example sentences from the Web for calaboose

I'll put him in the calaboose and keep him till you get married and away.

The Virginian |Owen Wister
Who knows the truth and speaks too loose In Berlin gets in the calaboose!

Major Prophets of To-Day |Edwin E. Slosson
They conducted us to what they had termed "the calaboose," a big, ramshackle, one-roomed barn-like structure.

Tramping on Life |Harry Kemp
The two lurched beside the constable to the calaboose, where they dropped down on the hard pads and temporarily passed out.

The Dude Wrangler |Caroline Lockhart

I had been duped by two brothers, Daniel and James Brown, who were then confined in the calaboose for passing counterfeit money.

Secret Band of Brothers |Jonathan Harrington Green

British Dictionary definitions for calaboose

calaboose

/ (ˈkæləˌbuːs) /

noun

US informal a prison; jail

Word Origin for calaboose

C18: from Creole French, from Spanish calabozo dungeon, of unknown origin