barracks
UK: ˈbærəks | US: ˈbærəks
n. A building or group of buildings used to house soldiers.
n. (Informal) A large, plain, or impersonal building.
The word "barracks" originates from the 17th-century Spanish word "barraca" (meaning "hut" or "temporary shelter"), which likely derived from the Catalan "barraca." It entered English via French ("baraque"), referring to military housing. The plural "-s" reflects its common usage as a collective noun for grouped buildings. The term retains its core idea of functional, often austere, communal lodging.
The soldiers returned to their barracks after the training exercise.
The old barracks were converted into affordable housing.
Visitors are not allowed inside the military barracks.
The barracks lacked heating, making winters difficult.
The university’s dormitories resembled bleak barracks.