n. [ From House. In some of its senses this word has been confused with the following word. ] 1. The act of putting or receiving under shelter; the state of dwelling in a habitation. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. That which shelters or covers; houses, taken collectively. Fabyan. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. (Arch.) (a) The space taken out of one solid, to admit the insertion of part of another, as the end of one timber in the side of another. (b) A niche for a statue. [ 1913 Webster ]
4. (Mach.) A frame or support for holding something in place, such as a piece of machinery, journal boxes, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]
5. (Naut.) (a) That portion of a mast or bowsprit which is beneath the deck or within the vessel. (b) A covering or protection, as an awning over the deck of a ship when laid up. (c) A houseline. See Houseline. [ 1913 Webster ]