1. A dwelling; a building designed for the habitation and residence of men.”House” means, presumptively, a dwelling-house is a building divided into floors and apartments, with four walls, a roof, and doors and chimneys; but it does not necessarily mean precisely this. Daniel v. Coulsting, 7 Man. & O. 125; Surman v. Darley, 14 Mees. & W. 183.”House” is not synonymous with “dwelling-house.” While the former is used in a broader and more comprehensive sense than the latter, it has a narrower and more restricted meaning than the word “building.” State v. Garity, 46 N. H. 61.
In the devise of a house, the word “house” is synonymous with “messuage,” and conveys all that comes within the curtilage. Rogers v. Smith, 4 Pa. 93.
2. A legislative assembly, or (where the bicameral system obtains) one of the two branches of the legislature; as the “house of lords,” “house of representatives.” Also a quorum of a legislative body. See South-worth v. Palmyra & J. R. Co., 2 Mich. 287.
3. The name “house” is also given to some collections of men other than legislative bodies, to some public institutions, and (colloquially) to mercantile firms or joint-stock companies. Ancient house. One which has stood long enough to acquire an easement of support against the adjoining land or building. 3 Kent Comm.. 437. Bawdy house. A brothel; a bouse maintained for purposes of prostitution. Rear house. See BEER. Boarding house. See that title. Dwelling house. See that title. House-bote. A species of estovers, belonging to a tenant for life or years, consisting in the right to take from the Woods of the lessor or owner such timber as may be necessary for making repairs upon the house. See Co. Litt 41b. House-burning. See ABSON. House-duty. A tax on inhabited houses imposed by 14 & 15 Vict. c. 36, in lieu of window-duty, which was abolished. House of commons. One of the constituent houses of the British parliament; composed of representatives of the counties, cities, and boroughs. House of correction. A reformatory. A place for the imprisonment of juvenile offenders, or those who nave committed crimes of lesser magnitude. Ex parte Moon Fook, 72 Cal. 10, 12 Pac. 804. House of delegates. The official title of the lower branch of the legislative assembly of several of the American states, e.g., Maryland o and Virginia. House of Ul fame. A bawdy-house ; a brothel; a dwelling allowed by its chief occupant to be used as a resort of persons desiring unlawful sexual intercourse. McAlister v. Clark. 33 Conn. 91; State v. Smith, 29 Minn. 193, 12 N. W. 524; Posnett v. Marble, 62 Vt. 481. 20 Atl. 813, 11 L. R. A. 162, 22 Am. St. Ren. 126. House of keys. The name of the lower branch of the legislative assembly or parliament of the Isle of Man, consisting of twenty-four representatives chosen by popular election. House of lords. Hie upper chamber of the British parliament. It comprises the archbishops and bishops, (called “Lords Spiritual,”) the English peers sitting by virtue of hereditary right, sixteen Scotch peers elected to represent the Scotch peerage under the act of union, add twenty-eight Irish peers elected under similar, provisions. The house of lords, as a judicial body, has ultimate appellate jurisdiction, and may1sit as a court for the trial of impeachments. House of refuge. A prison for juvenile delinquents. A house of correction or reformatory. House of representatives. The name of the body forming the more popular and numerous branch of the congress’ of the United States f also of the similar branch in many of the state legislatures. House of worship. A building or place set apart for and .devoted to the holding of religious services or exercises or public worship; a church or chapel or place similarly used. Old South. Soc, s. Boston, 127 Mass. 379; Lefevre s. Detroit, 2 Mich. 589; Washington Heights M. E. Church v. New York, 20 Hun (N. Y.) 297. Inner house, outer house. See those titles. Mansion house. See MANSION. Public house. An inn or tavern; a house for the entertainment of the public, or for the entertainment of ail who come lawfully and pay regularly. 8 Brewst 344. A place of public resort, particularly for purposes of drinking or gaming. In a more general sense, any house made public by the occupation carried on in it and the implied invitation to the public to enter, such as inns, taverns, drinking saloons, gambling houses, and perhaps also shops and stores. See Cole v. State, 28. Tex. App. 536, 13 S. W. 850, 19 Am. St Rep. 856; State v. Barns, 25 Tex. 655; Arnold v. State, 29 Ala. 50; Lafferty v. State, 41 Tex. Or. R. 606, 56 S. W. 623; Bentley v. State, 32 Ala. 599; Brown v. State, 27 Ala. 50. Tippling house. A place where intoxicating liquors are sold in drams or small quantities to he drunk On the premises, and where men resort for drinking purposes.