barracks
/ˈbarəks
/(also barrack)
plural noun [often treated as singular]
A large building or group of buildings used to house soldiers: the troops were ordered back to barracks...
- They all made their way up to the castle while the king instructed soldiers to the military barracks.
- One leaked battle plan shows they will lay on anti-Bush rallies using serving soldiers outside military barracks.
- This included the construction, maintenance and repair of military roads, barracks and cantonments.
Synonyms
garrison, camp, encampment, depot, billet, quarters, fort, cantonment, guardhouse;
Spanish cuartel
Nautical, informal stone frigate
archaic, informal lobster box
rare casern
Origin
Late 17th century: barrack from French baraque, from Italian baracca or Spanish barraca 'soldier's tent', of unknown origin.