Hovel
'hʌvəl
Definitions
A small, poorly built, and often dirty house or dwelling.
'hʌvəl
A small, simple, often dilapidated dwelling.
The homeless man found shelter in a derelict hovel.
💡 Simply: Imagine a really tiny, run-down house – maybe it's missing some walls or has a leaky roof. That's a hovel! People who don't have much might have to live in one.
👶 For kids: A really small, messy, and broken down house.
More Examples
The old farmer's hovel offered little protection from the harsh winter.
They lived in a cramped, dirty hovel, barely able to afford food.
How It's Used
"The family lived in a small hovel after losing their home."
"Peasants during the medieval period often resided in hovels."
From Middle English *hovel*, from Old French *hovel* ('a hut'), of uncertain origin.
Historically used to describe the dwellings of the poor and peasants, particularly during the medieval period, often emphasizing their rudimentary construction and poor living conditions.
Memory tip
Think of a 'hole' - a hovel is a small, simple dwelling, like a hole in the ground.