COURTHOUSE

courthouse

(noun) a building that houses judicial courts

courthouse

(noun) a government building that houses the offices of a county government

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

courthouse (plural courthouses)

A public building housing courts of law.

(US) The public building where most American counties have their county offices.

Source: Wiktionary

Court"house`, n.

1. A house in which established courts are held, or a house appropriated to courts and public meetings. [U.S.]

2. A county town; -- so called in Virginia and some others of the Southern States. Providence, the county town of Fairfax, is unknown by that name, and passes as Fairfax Court House. Barlett.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition