noun
flophouse
FLOP-house/ˈflɑːphaʊs/
A cheap lodging house for poor people or those without a settled home.
The flophouse contains narrow cots and thin, patched bedding.
Etymology
The flop element probably refers to slang meaning “lie down for sleep.” Joined with house, it names a cheap place to sleep rather than a comfortable residence.
More examples
- The old flophouse offered little privacy.
- The novel begins in a cheap flophouse near the station.
- The city replaced the unsafe flophouse with supported housing.
Forms
flophouse · flophouses
Similar words
- lodging house
- Lodging house is neutral; flophouse implies very cheap, basic, often poor accommodation.
- hostel
- A hostel offers shared budget lodging; flophouse has a more negative association with deprivation and neglect.