A small, squalid, and poorly constructed dwelling. A wretched living space that is typically dirty, cramped, and in poor repair.
From Middle English 'hovel,' possibly related to 'hove' (to shelter) or connected to Middle Dutch 'hovel' (hat, covering). Originally referred to an open shed or temporary shelter, gradually acquiring connotations of poverty and squalor.
The evolution of 'hovel' from a neutral term for shelter to a word dripping with disdain reflects changing social attitudes toward housing and poverty. What was once simply a basic shelter became stigmatized as society developed higher standards for acceptable living conditions.
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