rowhouse
Meaning
A house that is one of a row of identical or similar houses joined by common side walls.
Structure
Usage
The historic district is famous for its colorful brick rowhouses.
They bought and renovated a Victorian rowhouse in the city.
Living in a rowhouse often means sharing a wall with your neighbors.
Etymology
The word "rowhouse" is a transparent compound formed from two native English elements. "Row" descends from the Proto-Germanic raigwō, related to the concept of a line or series, which is also the source for the modern word "row." "House" has an even deeper Proto-Germanic root hūsą, meaning a dwelling or shelter. The compound logically describes a specific architectural form: a house that is part of a continuous series, sharing walls with its neighbors. This term emerged in American English in the late 19th century to describe a common urban housing style, where the "row" element directly conveys the key visual and structural characteristic of these connected dwellings.
Analysis
- row: From Old English rāw, meaning "a line, series." Its functional role is that of a noun used attributively to modify the following element. - house: From Old English hūs, meaning "a dwelling, shelter, building." Its functional role is the core noun, specifying the type of building.