"Charnel house"?

[Mehrgan]

Hi there,

Is the word "charnel" still used in English? Whta is the namefor the building or section of a hospital where dead bodies are kept? Thanks.

 

[Rover_KE]

As far as I know, 'charnel' is only used in historical contexts - as in 'charnel house'.

In a hospital, deceased patients are moved to the mortuary (AE morgue), sometimes euphemistically referred to as rose cottage or the rainbow room, so as not to upset the still-living patients.

Rover

 

[BobK]

As far as I know, 'charnel' is only used in historical contexts - as in 'charnel house'.*

In a hospital, deceased patients are moved to the mortuary (AE morgue), sometimes euphemistically referred to as rose cottage or the rainbow room, so as not to upset the still-living patients.

Rover

*In this case, the historical 'charnel house' is sometimes (currently) used as a metaphor to describe a very violent situation - quite like 'bloodbath'.

b

 

[Rover_KE]

Good point, Bob.

Rover

 

[Tullia]

I've seen it a lot in similes and metaphors regarding smell, for some reason.

It smells like a charnel-house in here.
There was the scent of the charnel-house about the place.

=====

I'd also like to make it clear that a charnel-house != mortuary.

A better translation, depending on context, might well be ossuary.

 

[BobK]

:up: Quite so. I was going to mention the Capuchin Chapel, but didn't have time to get my story straight!

b

 

[Barb_D]

I learned a few things in this thread!