cellhouse

plural cellhouses · alternative cell house

1. One of the buildings in a prison that contains cells for the inmates; cellblock.

   The two mess halls were inadequate to feed the four thousand convicts from the four cellhouses at the same time, so the North and West honor units ate first.

   2013, Edward Bunker, The Animal Factory

   2 more examples

   Such doorman will work at all times under the direct supervision of the cellhouse keeper and, during his tour of duty, will be responsible for the count of all inmates leaving or entering the cellhouse and for the security of the cellhouse door.

   1962, Joseph Edward Ragen, Charles Finston, Inside the World's Toughest Prison, page 582

   65 The correctional officer in charge of the cellhouse, a sergeant, noticed the inmate resisting his transfer enter the cellhouse with five others and then go up a flight of stairs to an upper tier.

   1991, Bert Useem, Peter Kimball, States of Siege: U.S. Prison Riots, 1971-1986, page 73