DCHP-3

house-raising

Hist.
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

n.

in colonial times especially, a community gathering, or bee, for the purpose of helping a neighbor to build a house.

Quotations

1829
A man, of the name of Redmons, who, with some others, attended at a house-raising six miles from this town, was, whilst returning to his home, murdered.
1834
. . . we were obliged to spend a long evening at the tavern, which was unusually full in consequence of a house-raising in the neighbourhood. . . .
1912
Of course our house-raising was a celebration, with a dance, camp-fire, water-butt full of punch, and headaches.