morgue
UK: mɔːɡ | US: mɔːrɡ
n. a place where the bodies of deceased persons are kept temporarily, especially for identification or autopsy.
n. (figuratively) a collection of reference materials, especially in a newspaper office.
The word "morgue" originates from French, where it initially referred to a building or room where unidentified bodies were displayed for public identification. The term derives from the Old French verb morguer ("to look at solemnly"), linked to the idea of examining the dead. The spelling "morgue" was retained in English, though the root morg- hints at its association with death (akin to Latin mors). Over time, it expanded metaphorically to denote archives (e.g., a newspaper's "morgue" for old clippings), reflecting a place where information—like bodies—is stored.
The police took the unidentified body to the morgue for further examination.
Journalists often search the newspaper's morgue for historical articles.
The hospital's morgue was overcrowded during the pandemic.
She shuddered at the thought of visiting the morgue to identify her relative.
The detective reviewed the morgue records to trace the victim's identity.