Hospital

Hospital, hos-′pit-al, n. a building for the reception and treatment of the old, the sick, and hurt, &c., or for the support and education of the young.—n. Hos′pitaller, one of a charitable brotherhood for the care of the sick in hospitals: one of an order of knights, commonly called Knights of St John (otherwise called Knights of Rhodes, and afterwards of Malta), who about 1048 built a hospital for the care and cure of pilgrims at Jerusalem.—Hospital Saturday, or Sunday, days set apart for the collection of funds on behalf of hospitals.—Convalescent hospital, one intermediate between the ordinary hospital and the patient's own home; Cottage hospital, a small establishment where hospital treatment is carried on at little expense and with simple arrangements; Lock hospital, one for the treatment of venereal diseases; Magdalen hospital, an institution for the reclamation of fallen women; Marine, or Naval, hospital, a special hospital for sick sailors, or for men in the naval service; Maternity hospital, one for women in labour. [O. Fr. hospital—Low L. hospitale—hospes, a guest.]