joy house
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
A brothel.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
‘You try her,’ Nulty said. ‘I ain't been in a joy house in twenty years.’
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “joy house” mean?
A brothel.
Is “joy house” formal or informal?
joy house is generally slang.