lazaretto

Meaning

1. (historical) A place reserved for people with infectious diseases (especially leprosy or plague) to live on a long-term basis.
2. (also, figuratively, historical) A building such as a hospital, or occasionally a ship, used to temporarily isolate sick people to prevent the spread of infectious diseases; a quarantine.
3. (broadly) A place at the front of the tweendecks of a merchant ship where provisions are stored.

Synonyms

lazaret

lazar house

lazarette

pesthouse

hospital for lepers

glory hole

infectious disease hospital

quarantine

pest-house

contagious hospital

hospital

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Translations

lazzaretto

lleproseria

λοιμοκαθαρτήριο

νοσοκομείο λοιμικών

lazaret

lazaretto

lazzeretto

quarantainegebouw

leprosário

llebroseria

karantina yeri

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌlæzəˈɹɛtəʊ/

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian lazzareto (archaic), lazzaretto, lazzeretto, from lazzaro (“leper”) + -etto (diminutive or meliorative suffix). Lazzaro is derived from Medieval Latin lazarus (“leper”), from Lazarus, from Ancient Greek Λᾱ́ζᾱρος (Lā́zāros), from Hebrew אֶלְעָזָר ('el'azár, literally “God has helped”), from אֵל ('él, “God; a deity, god”) + עָזַר ('azár, “to assist, help”). Lazarus is a Biblical character mentioned in the parable of Jesus known as “The rich man and Lazarus” who is described as being a beggar covered in sores: see Luke 16:20–21. Doublet of lazar and lazaret.
The plural form lazaretti is borrowed from Italian lazzaretti, lazzeretti.