Where does “spookhouse” come from?

spookhouse (English) comes from English House, from Middle English hous, from Old English hūs, from Proto-West Germanic hūs, from Proto-Germanic hūsą, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- — to cover, bedeck; cover.

spookhouse (English): A haunted house; A headquarters for intelligence...

Definitions

  1. A haunted house; A headquarters for intelligence...

Ancestry of “spookhouse”, step by step

spookhouse traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English House

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHouseA particular chamber of political representation
2Middle Englishhoushouse, residence; house of worship, temple;...
3Old Englishhūsdwelling, shelter, house; house
4Proto-West Germanichūshouse
5Proto-Germanichūsąhouse
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kewH-to cover, bedeck; cover

via English spook

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishspookA ghost or phantom; A hobgoblin; A scare or...
2Dutchspookphantom, ghost; horror, terror; an annoying and...
3Middle Dutchspoocapparition, ghost; spook, ghost
4Middle Dutchspoke
5Proto-Germanicspōkspook, ghost, apparition; witchcraft, wizardry
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH-Every word from Proto-Germanic hūsąEvery word from Proto-West Germanic hūs