A section of a prison containing a row of jail cells, or the cells themselves grouped together as a unit.
A compound word from 'cell' (from Latin 'cella,' small room) + 'block' (from Germanic origins meaning chunk or solid piece). The term emerged in the late 1800s with modern prison architecture.
The design of cellblocks was revolutionary—the panopticon prison design meant one guard could watch all cells from the center, inspiring philosophers to think about surveillance and power for 200 years!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.