Hospital

hos-′pit-al, n. a building for the reception and treatment of the old, the sick, and hurt, ., 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.]