Work"house` (?), n.; pl. Workhouses (#). [AS. weorch&?;s.]

1. A house where any manufacture is carried on; a workshop.

2. A house in which idle and vicious persons are confined to labor.

3. A house where the town poor are maintained at public expense, and provided with labor; a poorhouse.

Work"house` (?), n.; pl. Workhouses (#). [AS. weorch&?;s.]

1. A house where any manufacture is carried on; a workshop.

2. A house in which idle and vicious persons are confined to labor.

3. A house where the town poor are maintained at public expense, and provided with labor; a poorhouse.

• (US) a prison in which the sentence includes manual labour
  
• (British) formerly, an institution for the poor homeless, funded by the local parish where the able-bodied were required to work