house of correction

n., pl., houses of correction.
An institution for the confinement of persons convicted of minor criminal offenses.

noun

A place for the confinement of persons in lawful detention: brig, jail, keep, penitentiary, prison. Informal lockup, pen³. Slang big house, can, clink, cooler, coop, hoosegow, joint, jug, pokey¹, slammer, stir². Chiefly Regional calaboose. See free/unfree.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: (formerly) a jail or other place of detention for persons convicted of minor offences

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