[OE. winterhús. Cf. G. winterhaus.] A house for winter occupation. (Cf. SUMMER-HOUSE 1.)
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xxxvi. 98. Winterhus and sumorhus and wynsume buras.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 530/1. Wyntyr howse, or halle … hibernaculum.
1539. Bible (Great), Ecclus. xxii. 17–18. A fayre playstred wall in a wynter house.
1611. Bible, Jer. xxxvi. 22. The king sate in the winter house,… & there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.
1688. Boyle, Final Causes, iv. 173. Beavers … lay these together so as to build themselves strong winter-houses.
1771. Burney, Pres. St. Mus. France & Italy, 256. He has a winter-house in Florence.
1865. Lubbock, Preh. Times, 392. These circles were at first supposed to be the remains of winter-houses.
So † Winter-housing. rare.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., Tab. 18. Bildynge of wyntir housynge.
