oast-house

An oast-house stands in a field with its distinctive conical roof.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A building for drying hops or malt: An "oast-house" is a specific type of farm building traditionally used for drying hops (used in brewing beer) or malt. It typically features a distinctive conical or pyramidal roof and a kiln inside.

Usage Examples

• (A former hop-drying building now used for accommodation.)
• (Describing the traditional agricultural process.)
• (Referring to the architectural feature common in hop-growing regions.)

Advanced Usage

• "oast-house conversion": a common term in real estate, referring to an oast-house that has been renovated into a residence.
  • They bought an oast-house conversion near the village. (A former oast-house turned into a home.)

Variants and Related Words

• Oast (n): the kiln or drying floor within an oast-house; also used as a shortened form for the building itself.
  • The oast was heated by a wood fire to dry the hops. (The drying apparatus inside the oast-house.)

Synonyms

• Hop kiln: a structure specifically for drying hops.
• Malt house: a building for drying malt, though often a separate facility.

Related Idioms

• (No common idioms directly associated with "oast-house," as it is a specific architectural/agricultural term.)