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morgue

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morgue

  [mawrg]
–noun
1. a place in which bodies are kept, esp. the bodies of victims of violence or accidents, pending identification or burial.
2. a reference file of old clippings, mats, books, etc., in a newspaper office.
3. the room containing such a reference file.
4. any place, as a room or file, where records, information, or objects are kept for unexpected but possible future use.
5. such records, information, or objects.
Use morgue in a Sentence
Origin:
1815–25; < F; name of building in Paris housing unidentified dead bodies
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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morgue   (môrg)   
n.  

  1. A place in which the bodies of persons found dead are kept until identified and claimed or until arrangements for burial have been made.

  2. A reference file in a newspaper or magazine office.


[French, from la Morgue, building in Paris used as a morgue, probably from morgue, haughty manner, from Old French morguer, to look at solemnly, from Vulgar Latin *murricāre, to make a face, from *murrum, muzzle.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

morgue 
"mortuary," 1821, from Fr. Morgue, originally a specific building in Paris where bodies were exposed for identification; originally the place where new prisoners were displayed to keepers to establish their identification. Probably from morgue "haughtiness," originally "a sad expression, solemn look," from O.Fr. morguer "look solemnly," from V.L. *murricare "to make a face, pout," from *murrum "muzzle, snout." Adopted as a general term in U.S., 1880s, replacing earlier dead house, etc. In newspaper slang, "collection of pre-written obituary material of living persons" (1903), hence "library of clips, photos, etc.," 1918.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: morgue
Pronunciation: 'morg
Function: noun
: a place where the bodies of persons found dead are kept until identified and claimed by relatives or released for burial or autopsy
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: morgue
Pronunciation: 'mo(&)rg
Function: noun
: a place where the bodies of persons found dead are kept until identified and claimed byrelatives or are released for burial
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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morgue (môrg)
n.
A place in which dead bodies are temporarily kept until identified and claimed or until arrangements for burial have been made.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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