Etymology Map
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Calaboose

3 stages from Spanish to English.

Today it means a jail or prison

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

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

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.