maison de passe

English

Etymology

From French maison de passe.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmeɪzɒn də pas/

Noun

maison de passe (plural maisons de passe)

1. A low-class hotel where rooms are rented out by the hour, especially to prostitutes and their clients.
   • 1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber, published 1992, page 31:

     Of course in part it is due to the fact that it took place at the Princes Hotel - what the devil induced Piers to stay there instead of somewhere like the Bristol? Funds? It's virtually a maison de passe.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:love hotel

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɛ.zɔ̃ d(ə) pas/, /me.zɔ̃ d(ə) pas/

Noun

maison de passe f (plural maisons de passe)

1. (dated) maison de passe, love hotel

   Synonym: maison close