bughouse
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A flea-infested hotel, lodging-house etc.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A prison.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Meaning · English
A hospital, especially a lunatic asylum.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “bughouse” mean?
A flea-infested hotel, lodging-house etc.
Is “bughouse” formal or informal?
bughouse is generally slang.