cathouse
[
kat
-hous]
/ˈkætˌhaʊs/
noun
,
plural
cathouses
[
kat
-hou-ziz]
/ˈkætˌhaʊ zɪz/
(
Show IPA
).
Slang.
1.
brothel; whorehouse.
Origin
1595-1605,
for earlier sense of siege tower; 1930-35 for current sense;
cat
1
(in obsolete sense of harlot) +
house
British Dictionary definitions for
cathouse
cathouse
/
ˈkætˌhaʊs
/
noun
1.
(
US & Canadian
)
a slang word for
brothel
Slang definitions & phrases for
cathouse
cathouse
noun
A cheap lodging house;
flophouse
(1915+ Hoboes)
A brothel
: New Orleans was proud and ashamed of its cathouses
(1890s+)
[second sense fr earlier cat, ''prostitute, vulva'']