Where did the saying Hoosegow come from?

The word is from Mexican Spanish juzgao, a jail, which came from juzgado for a tribunal or courtroom. It shifted to mean a jail because the two were often in the same building (and the path from the one to the other was often swift and certain).

Why is jail called Pokey?

In the 19th century, the word came to mean “cramped or confined,” as a small room might make a resident feel “poked at” by the walls. Since jail cells are not known for their generous elbow room, this is probably the connection between “poky” (cramped) and “pokey” (jail).

What is the slang Hoosegow mean?

jail
Definition of hoosegow US, informal + humorous. : jail … ended the evening in the local hoosegow.—

What is the Latin root word for jail?

1300 (c. 1200 in surnames) “a jail, prison; a birdcage.” The form in j- is from Middle English jaile, from Old French jaiole “a cage; a prison,” from Medieval Latin gabiola “a cage,” from Late Latin caveola, diminutive of Latin cavea “a cage, enclosure, stall, coop; a hollow place, a cavity” (see cave (n.)).

What was a bindlestiff?

Definition of bindle stiff : hobo especially : one who carries his clothes or bedding in a bundle.

Is poky a bad word?

Pokey can also be used to describe someone or something that moves slowly. This sense of word is intended to be negative or insulting. Less commonly, it can be used as an adjective meaning small and cramped, as in There’s no way we can have a party in this pokey little apartment. Pokey can also be spelled poky.

What does roll up a stake mean?

“Rolling up a stake” means when you save money to pay for something. In order to do this, players need to “roll up a stake” to play – meaning, they need to save up enough money for a proper bankroll that covers living expenses and enough money to play at the stakes that they want to play at.

Who is Gal in jail?

Slang. A place for the confinement of persons in lawful detention: brig, house of correction, jail, keep, penitentiary, prison.

What is the English spelling of jail?

Gaol is an alternative spelling of jail, and it means the same thing. Historically, gaol was predominant in British English until roughly 1935, at which point jail became the more popular option.

Who invented the word jail?

Because Middle English (the language spoken from about 1100 to 1500) adopted two distinct versions of the word from French. The “gaol” version comes from the Norman French gaiole or gaole, the OED says, while “jail” comes from the Old Parisian French jaiole or jaile.

What’s the hobo stick called?

bindle
The bindle is colloquially known as the “blanket stick”, particularly within the Northeastern hobo community.