booby hatch

noun

plural booby hatches
1
: a raised framework with a sliding cover over a small hatch on a ship
2
informal + often offensive : a psychiatric hospital
usually used with the

Word History

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of booby hatch was in 1784

Dictionary Entries Near booby hatch

Cite this Entry

“Booby hatch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/booby%20hatch. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!