This mortal house I'll ruin, Do CÊsar what he can.
Shak.
12. [With an adj., as narrow, dark, etc.] The grave. "The narrow
house." Bryant.
House is much used adjectively and as the first element of compounds.
The sense is usually obvious; as, house cricket, housemaid, house
painter, housework.
House ant (Zoˆl.), a very small, yellowish brown ant (Myrmica molesta),
which often infests houses, and sometimes becomes a great pest. --
House of bishops (Prot. Epis. Ch.), one of the two bodies composing a
general convertion, the other being House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.
-- House boat, a covered boat used as a dwelling. -- House of call, a
place, usually a public house, where journeymen connected with a
particular trade assemble when out of work, ready for the call of
employers. [Eng.] Simonds. -- House car (Railroad), a freight car with
inclosing sides and a roof; a box car. -- House of correction. See
Correction. -- House cricket (Zoˆl.), a European cricket (Gryllus
domesticus), which frequently lives in houses, between the bricks of
chimneys and fireplaces. It is noted for the loud chirping or
stridulation of the males. -- House dog, a dog kept in or about a
dwelling house. -- House finch (Zoˆl.), the burion. -- House flag, a
flag denoting the commercial house to which a merchant vessel belongs.
-- House fly (Zoˆl.), a common fly (esp. Musca domestica), which
infests houses both in Europe and America. Its larva is a maggot which
lives in decaying substances or excrement, about sink drains, etc. --
House of God, a temple or church. -- House of ill fame. See Ill fame
under Ill, a. -- House martin (Zoˆl.), a common European swallow
(Hirundo urbica). It has feathered feet, and builds its nests of mud
against the walls of buildings. Called also house swallow, and window
martin. -- House mouse (Zoˆl.), the common mouse (Mus musculus). --
House physician, the resident medical adviser of a hospital or other
public institution. -- House snake (Zoˆl.), the milk snake. -- House
sparrow (Zoˆl.), the common European sparrow (Passer domesticus). It
has recently been introduced into America, where it has become very
abundant, esp. in cities. Called also thatch sparrow. -- House spider
(Zoˆl.), any spider which habitually lives in houses. Among the most
common species are Theridium tepidariorum and Tegenaria domestica. --
House surgeon, the resident surgeon of a hospital. -- House wren
(Zoˆl.), the common wren of the Eastern United States (Troglodytes
aÎdon). It is common about houses and in gardens, and is noted for its
vivacity, and loud musical notes. See Wren. -- Religious house, a
monastery or convent. -- The White House, the official residence of the
President of the United States; -- hence, colloquially, the office of
President. -- To bring down the house. See under Bring. -- To keep
house, to maintain an independent domestic establishment. -- To keep
open house, to entertain friends at all times.
Syn. -- Dwelling; residence; abode. See Tenement.
House (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Housed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Housing.]
[AS. h&?;sian.] 1. To take or put into a house; to shelter under a
roof; to cover from the inclemencies of the weather; to protect by
covering; as, to house one's family in a comfortable home; to house
farming utensils; to house cattle.
At length have housed me in a humble shed.
Young.
House your choicest carnations, or rather set them under a
penthouse.
Evelyn.