Definition of "workhouse" in Anglais

noun

1. (British, historical) An institution for homeless poor people funded by the local parish, where the able-bodied were required to work.

2. (US) A prison in which the sentence includes manual labour.

3. (archaic) A place of manufacture; a factory.

verb

1. (British, transitive, historical) To place (a person) in the workhouse (institution for the poor).