roundhouse
UK[ˈraʊndhaʊs]US[ˈraʊndhaʊs]
n
a railway maintenance building with a circular structure and a turntable in the center, used for storing and repairing locomotives.
n
a wide, powerful punch or kick delivered with a sweeping circular motion, especially in boxing or martial arts.
n
a cabin or structure on the after part of a sailing ship's quarterdeck.
Morpheme Breakdown
round
house
round
circular
house
building
Etymology
the word 'roundhouse' is a transparent english compound, formed from the adjective 'round' and the noun 'house'. its earliest recorded use in the 16th century referred to a cabin or structure on a ship, likely named for its rounded shape or prominent position. the term was later applied in the railway industry in the 19th century to describe the circular engine sheds built around a central turntable, a logical extension meaning a 'circular building'. the martial arts sense, originating in the 20th century, is a metaphorical extension, comparing the sweeping arc of the punch or kick to the circular form or the wide, swinging motion associated with the earlier meanings.
Analysis
Structure: round (circular) + house (building)
- round: from old english 'rund', 'rond' (circular, spherical), of germanic origin; related to dutch 'rond' and german 'rund'. functions as an adjective describing the shape.
- house: from old english 'hūs' (dwelling, shelter, building), of germanic origin; related to dutch 'huis' and german 'haus'. functions as a noun denoting a structure.
Examples
the historic steam locomotive was carefully restored inside the brick roundhouse.
the fighter knocked out his opponent with a devastating roundhouse kick to the head.
the captain stood near the roundhouse, observing the crew's maneuvers.