Etymology

greenhouse

green·house
G2R1E1E1N1H4O1U1S1E1

Today it means: A building used to grow plants, particularly one with large glass windows or plastic sheeting to trap heat from sunlight even in intemperate seasons or climates. Full definition →

First used 17th c.
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The story

From green + house ("house for growing greens"), in reference to the produce grown within.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 17th c. A building used to grow plants, particularly one with large glass windows or plastic sheeting to trap heat from sunlight even in intemperate seasons or climates.
  • from 20th c. The glass of a plane's cockpit.
  • from 20th c. A public toilet.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.