PEST HOUSE Meaning and
Definition
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A "pest house" refers to a designated structure or building that historically served as a place to isolate and quarantine individuals afflicted with contagious or infectious diseases. Also known as a "plague house" or "fever house," pest houses were established as a containment measure to prevent the spread of illness to the rest of the population.
Typically situated outside of populated areas, these isolation facilities were deliberately located away from town centers and residential communities due to the highly contagious and potentially life-threatening nature of the diseases housed within. Pest houses were commonly used during epidemics such as bubonic plague outbreaks, smallpox, tuberculosis, and other communicable diseases.
Built with specific design features aimed at minimizing transmission rates, pest houses often incorporated tall walls or fences to restrict contact with the outside world. They were equipped with basic medical facilities to provide minimum care to those isolated within. The purpose of these structures was to concentrate patients who shared similar disease symptoms, ensuring that individuals received appropriate medical attention while preventing the spread of infectious pathogens throughout the broader community.
With advancements in medical science and the implementation of public health measures, pest houses are now obsolete and no longer in use. However, they hold historical significance as testament to the efforts made to combat the spread of contagious diseases in earlier centuries.
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An isolation hospital for the reception and treatment of cases of contagious disease, especially smallpox.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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An infirmary or hospital for pestilential diseases.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for PEST HOUSE
- -pesthouse
- pesthousee
- pesthous
- lest house
- 0est house
- pwst house
- psst house
- pdst house
- prst house
- p4st house
- p3st house
- peat house
- pezt house
- pext house
- pedt house
- peet house
- pewt house
- pesr house
- pesf house
- pesg house
Etymology of PEST HOUSE
The word "pest house" is a compound noun consisting of two elements:
1. Pest: The term "pest" originates from the Latin word "pestis", which means "a plague, destruction, pest". It was used in Latin to refer to any epidemic disease or plague. Over time, it evolved in English to specifically denote a harmful, destructive, or contagious organism or agent.
2. House: The word "house" is derived from the Old English word "hūs", which has Germanic roots. It simply refers to a building or structure that serves as a dwelling or shelter.
When combined, "pest house" refers to a building specifically designated for the treatment or quarantine of individuals affected by a contagious disease or epidemic. The term dates back to the late 17th century and was mainly used during times of significant outbreaks or pandemics.
Similar spelling words for PEST HOUSE
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