Hothouse
/ˈhɒtˌhaʊs/noun
A heated greenhouse for growing plants.
Did you know?The word is simply a compound of hot + house, but the idea of a deliberately heated plant chamber became a powerful symbol of artificial, forced growth in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
hāt
“Hot; having a high temperature.”
Old English
OE
hūs
“House; dwelling, shelter, building.”
Middle English
ME
hot hous
“A heated house or room, especially for plants or bathing.”
17th Century
English
hothouse
“A heated structure used to cultivate plants.”
Modern English
English
hothouse
“A heated greenhouse for growing plants.”