# roundhouse

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹaʊndˌhaʊs/ · frequency rank #38,140

## Definitions
1. A circular prison, especially a small local lockup or station house.
2. A traditional circular dwelling elevated on stilts with a conical roof found in part of Southeast Asia.
3. A prehistoric dwelling typical of northwest Europe in the Iron Age and Bronze Age.
4. The uppermost room or cabin of any note upon the stern of a ship.
5. A privy near the bow of a vessel, especially as reserved for officers.
6. A circular building in which locomotives are housed, sometimes with a turntable.
7. A punch or kick delivered with an exaggerated sweeping movement.
8. In the game of pinochle, a meld consisting of a queen and king in each of the four suits.

## Etymology
From round + house, a calque of Dutch rondhuis (“guardhouse”). First attested in the Mid-15th c.

## Easily confused with
- **roadhouse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roadhouse-vs-roundhouse)

## Common misspellings (14)
`orundhouse`, `ronudhouse`, `roudnhouse`, `rounddhouse`, `roundhhouse`, `roundhosue`, `roundhoues`, `roundhousse`, `roundhuose`, `roundohuse`, `rounhdouse`, `rounndhouse`, `rroundhouse`, `ruondhouse`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/roundhouse