calaboose

calaboose

slang Jail. The word comes from "calabozo," the Spanish word for "dungeon." They'll throw you in the calaboose if they find out that you were involved in the robbery! A new sheriff arrived into town, and before long the calaboose was overrun with criminals. I hear the cops picked Johnny up and threw him in the calaboose. Geez, what did he do now?

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

calaboose

(ˈkæləbus)

n. jail. (From a Spanish word.) Are we going to tell what happened, or are we going to spend the night in the calaboose?

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.