blockhouse

noun

block·​house ˈbläk-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce blockhouse (audio)
Synonyms of blockhousenext
1
a
: a structure of heavy timbers formerly used for military defense with sides loopholed and pierced for gunfire and often with a projecting upper story
b
: a small easily defended building for protection from enemy fire
2
: a building usually of reinforced concrete serving as an observation point for an operation likely to be accompanied by heat, blast, or radiation hazard

Illustration of blockhouse

Illustration of blockhouse
  • blockhouse 1a

Examples of blockhouse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That same Christmas in Columbia, a settlement of four blockhouses and 50 settlers founded a month earlier at what is now Columbia-Tusculum, pioneers held a feast. — Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 15 Dec. 2024 One of the original blockhouses overlooks the canal, while the old town is filled with art galleries and craft stories. — Joe Yogerst, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of blockhouse was in 1615

Rhymes for blockhouse

See All Rhymes for blockhouse

Browse Nearby Words

blockhouse
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blockhouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blockhouse. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

blockhouse

noun
block·​house -ˌhau̇s How to pronounce blockhouse (audio)
1
: a building of heavy timbers or of concrete built with holes in its sides through which persons inside may fire out at an enemy
2
: a building used as an observation point for an operation likely to be accompanied by heat, blast, or radiation hazard

More from Merriam-Webster on blockhouse

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for blockhouse

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blockhouse

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

13 Unusually Long English Words

9 Superb Owl Words

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

13 Unusually Long English Words

9 Superb Owl Words
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
number-twelve-balloon
12-Letter Words Quiz A dozen words, a dozen letters each.
See All