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lazaretto

(laz′ə ret′ō)

a public hospital for poor people having contagious diseases, esp. for lepers
a building or ship used as a quarantine station
a storage space below deck in the stern of a ship or boat

Origin: It < Venetian lazareto, nazareto, after Venetian church of Santa Madonna di Nazaret, used as a plague hospital during the 15th c.; initial l- by assoc. with lazzaro, leper: see lazar

Also, and for 3 usually, lazaret or lazarette

See lazaretto in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. laz·a·ret·tos also laz·a·rets or laz·a·rettes

A hospital treating contagious diseases.
A building or ship used as a quarantine station.
often lazaret Nautical A storage space between the decks of a ship.

Origin:

Origin: Italian lazzaretto

Origin: : blend of lazzaro, lazar (from Late Latin Lazarus, Lazarus; see lazar)

Origin: and dialectal Nazareto, popular name for a hospital maintained in Venice by the Church of Santa Maria di Nazaret

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