When English speakers of the American West borrowed juzgado, they recorded it the way they heard it: hoosegow. They also associated the word specifically with the jail that was usually in …

Hoosegow sounds like a silly willy word made up by kids, but it’s a slang term for a jail or prison. We’re supposed to use it humorously or even ironically, and you’ll find it in western movies or …

Our Living Language Hoosegow is an old slang synonym for jail with a flavor of the American West: They threw him in the hoosegow for being drunk and disorderly.

Sep 3, 2025 · What Does “Hoosegow” Mean? At its core, hoosegow is an informal slang term for jail or prison. If someone says, “He ended up in the hoosegow,” they mean the person landed …

Hoosegow definition: a jail.. See examples of HOOSEGOW used in a sentence.

hoosegow (n.) "jail," 1911, western U.S., probably from mispronunciation of Mexican Spanish juzgao "tribunal, court," from juzgar "to judge," used as a noun, from Latin iudicare "to judge," …

hoosegow, n. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

Jul 17, 2025 · “Hoosegow” is a slang term for jail or prison, especially used in American English. It’s often associated with western or rustic settings and conveys an informal or humorous tone …

Jul 12, 2023 · What does Hoosegow mean? The term Hoosegow refers to an American slang used to describe a prison or jailhouse. It’s like referring to the clink, the slammer, or even the …

Definition of 'hoosegow' hoosegow in British English or hoosgow (ˈhuːsɡaʊ ) noun US a slang word for jail