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saltbox

saltbox

1 8.2
A wooden house with a long roof sloping down to make two stories in front and one at the back
  • noun
  • /ˈsɔltˌbɑks/
  • US
: casa saltbox
  • Her saltbox house on the coast Took her mind off St. Louis
  • saltbox house
  • two-story saltbox
  • saltbox style

Examples

  • When he was gone, I moved in with the Lawsons into a large Yankee saltbox in Siasconset on a bluff by the Sankaty Head lighthouse.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I almost drove past the mailbox, but I braked hard and pulled in beside a faded white saltbox with a green shingle roof and a peeling red door.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Three weeks in the saltbox, then the long drop for him.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And then there was a perfect saltbox house.

    Blog text (16)
  • But it's got me thinking again about how an actual saltbox-type campaign might be played out.

    Blog text (10)
  • Maureen's is the big plain saltbox by the marsh.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Therese's family lived in one of the first subdivisions, on a cul-de-sac where the houses were built in three styles: ranch, split-level, and bastardized saltbox.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The classic New England saltbox features a long pitched roof that slopes dramatically to the back.

  • They renovated their historic saltbox to preserve its unique architectural style while adding modern amenities.

  • The charming little saltbox at the end of the street has become a beloved landmark in our neighborhood.

Surface Forms

saltbox singular
saltboxes plural

Morphology

saltbox = salt + box (opaque) = salt + box

The components 'salt' and 'box' do not transparently convey the specific architectural style of a 'saltbox' house.

Etymology

The word saltbox comes from the wooden box people used to keep salt in, because that box had a long, sloping lid. So a saltbox house is named for its long roof that slopes down at the back, making the house look like that 'salt box'.