calaboose

Where does the word "calaboose" come from? It comes from Spanish calabozo, passing through Louisiana French before entering English (1790s).

Calaboose’s story begins in Spanish: calabozo meant “dungeon.” A dungeon. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in Louisiana French as calabouse. Borrowed when Spain ruled Louisiana from 1762 to 1800. It reached English by 1790s as calaboose. Common in the slang of the South and the West. Today, calaboose means a jail or prison.

1. Stage 1 · Spanish · medieval calabozo "dungeon", a dungeon.
2. Stage 2 · Louisiana French · 1700s calabouse "jail", borrowed when Spain ruled Louisiana from 1762 to 1800.
3. Stage 3 · American English · 1790s calaboose "jail", common in the slang of the South and the West.