A circular prison, especially a small local lockup or station house.
[T]he gentlemen in the coffee room insisted upon the watch being called, or a constable. With considerable difficulty the two heroes were carried off to the round-house, and there lodged for the night.1808–10, William Hickey, Memoirs of a Georgian Rake, Folio Society 1995, p. 137
2
A traditional circular dwelling elevated on stilts with a conical roof found in part of Southeast Asia.
All the time six or eight large Chinese gongs were being beaten by the vigorous arms of as many young men, producing such a deafening discord that I was glad to escape to the round house, where I slept very comfortably with half a dozen smoke-dried human skulls suspended over my head.1869, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Malay Archipelago, volume I, London: Macmillan and Co., page 110:
3
Archaeology, History, Human sciences, Sciences A prehistoric dwelling typical of northwest Europe in the Iron Age and Bronze Age.
A central stone slab cist containing the burial was surrounded by a circles of stones placed on edge, probably to represent the round house in which the deceased had lived.2019, Alan Staniforth, Cleveland Way, page 66:
Crewe North Motive Power Depot is to be modernised completely. This includes the provision of a new coaling plant, ash handling plant, and two new locomotive sheds of the latest roundhouse type, each with 32 roads radiating from a 70-ft. dia. turntable.1948 November and December, “Crewe M.P.D. to be Modernised”, in Railway Magazine, page 372:
Archaeologists working on HS2 in Birmingham have uncovered the remains of what is believed to be the world's oldest railway roundhouse at Curzon Street station.2020 March 25, “Network News: HS2 work uncovers oldest roundhouse”, in Rail, page 16:
7
US A punch or kick delivered with an exaggerated sweeping movement.
8
Card games, Games In the game of pinochle, a meld consisting of a queen and king in each of the four suits.
Etymology From round + house, a calque of Dutch rondhuis (“guardhouse”). First attested in the Mid-15th c.
1
To punch or kick with an exaggerated sweeping movement.
We focused on the nerve-agent feint, and got roundhoused by the insurgent hook.2008 March 16, Nathaniel Fick, “Worries Over Being ‘Slimed’”, in New York Times:
I'm on my feet and my fist is roundhousing and I feel flesh. I hit again, and teeth crack under my fist. I hear voices and they're shouting and a light burns into my face.2009, Diane Tullson, Riley Park, page 18: