dead house—
1. (dated) a mortuary; a morgue:
- When they reached the Ferry Beach they made all speed to the hospital and to the “dead house,” which held seven coffins.
2. (sl.) an uninhabited house:
- We thought it was a “dead” house, but we walked into a girl’s room and she squealed.
death house—(U.S. Prison) a group of death cells for persons awaiting execution:
- He has three murders behind him, and the grey doors of the death-house in front of him.