Tollbooth

/ˈtoʊlbuːð/ noun

Definition

A small building or booth where drivers pay a fee to use a road, bridge, or highway.

Etymology

From 'toll' (Old English 'toll,' a tax or payment) plus 'booth' (from Old Norse 'búð,' a temporary shelter), becoming standard in American English with the rise of highways.

Kelly Says

Tollbooths represent a fascinating economic decision—governments chose to recover road costs from users rather than taxes—and they've become iconic symbols in American culture, from movies to famous suicides.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.