Other forms: courthouses
A courthouse is the building where trials are held. Outside the courthouse, the county courthouse, steps of the courthouse.
It is chiefly the American word, where British English says court or law courts. In many American towns the courthouse is the oldest and grandest public building and stands on the square. Note that the compound is court plus house, and that court comes from a word for an enclosed yard.
1nouncourthouseThe building where trials are held.
“Reporters gathered on the steps of the courthouse, waiting for the verdict.”
courthouse is a building.
Court plus house. Court comes from Old French cort, an enclosed yard, from Latin cohors.
From court + house.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA