Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

saltbox

/sˈɔltbˌɑks/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.55 in modern English

Syllables: salt-box
IPA: /sˈɔltbˌɑks/

16

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A box for keeping salt in.

noun

A similar box formerly used as a percussion instrument in burlesque music.

noun

A distinctively shaped wooden-frame house with two stories at the front and one behind, characteristic of New England.

American usage

noun

A roof where one side slopes farther down than the other.

noun

The cell in Newgate prison for a prisoner condemned to death.

British usage; Slang

Example Sentences

"[O]ne who had heard without seeing the application, would have mistaken the sound for that of a salt-box, in the hand of a dext'rous Merry Andrew, belonging to one of the booths at Bartholomew Fair."
"Rather than build new homes, weekenders are renovating existing homes, with saltboxes and capes predominant."
"“I think I'd rather languish in the Salt Box at Newgate Prison wearing the Devil's Claws than to be married to that tree,” Kierney said."
"As expected, Peg was indeed cast for death and was moved to the 'salt box' (the condemned cell) in the Press-yard to be near the New Drop."

Etymology

From salt + box.

Usage

American usage
British usage
Slang

Inflected Forms

saltboxes (plural) salt-box (alternative)

Questions

How do you pronounce saltbox?: The recorded pronunciation is /sˈɔltbˌɑks/.
What does saltbox mean?: A box for keeping salt in.
Where does saltbox come from?: From salt + box.

How to pronounce saltbox

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “saltbox”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/sˈɔltbˌɑks/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “saltbox”.
Repeat and practice — Say “saltbox” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.