American slang

[Beckstargirl]

What is the U.S. slang word meaning a prison?

[Quizmonster]

If this is the quiz question that goes on to say the word is a corruption of another word meaning 'tribunal', then the answer is 'hoosegow'. If not, then it might be pen, can, slammer and a variety of other possibilities.

[ICEMANSAV]

slammer, can , pen , all said by quiz monster grr darn your knowledge

[worder]

well, according to Roget's, jug, calaboose, calaboso (actually spanish), the big house (you hear this one a lot), stir, clink (another popular one), cooler, school, quad, pokey (never really heard this one) can you tell us which was the right one?

[Quizmonster]

The 'quiz' I referred to in my earlier answer was based on a very similar question to this one which appeared elsewhere recently on this website. It asked for "a US slang word for prison that was a corruption of a Spanish word for a tribunal".

The Spanish word for 'tribunal' is 'juzgado' and it is from this that the Americans came up with 'hoosegow'. I'm pretty certain that this is the answer required, but perhaps Beckstargirl will tell us whether it is or not.

[jaycess]

the slammer

[Ouisch]

the Joint (usually used by ex-cons, as in "back when I was in the Joint...")

[avern]

what about "The Grey-Bar Hotel"

[Judy Simpson]

I am from the south and around here I have heard them refered to as Chain Gains!

[Jonesgrl5]

The American word, or words for prison is jail, or behind bars, or here's and older one the big house. Also there's the slammer, the joint.