blockhouse

noun block·house \ -ˌhau̇s \

Definition of blockhouse

1 a : a structure of heavy timbers formerly used for military defense with sides loopholed and pierced for gunfire and often with a projecting upper story

b : a small easily defended building for protection from enemy fire

2 : a building usually of reinforced concrete serving as an observation point for an operation likely to be accompanied by heat, blast, or radiation hazard

See blockhouse defined for kids

Recent Examples of blockhouse from the Web

But the simple blockhouse flounders amid soggy soils and high river stages.

— richard campanella, NOLA.com, "How New Orleans was founded in 1718: Indecision, contingency, discord and serendipity," 10 Jan. 2018
And then there are the brutalist concrete blockhouses of the Soviet era.

— lori rackl, chicagotribune.com, "Spend a ‘Weekend in Havana’ with new PBS special," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blockhouse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.