/bar"euhl hows'/ , n. , pl. barrelhouses /-how'ziz/ for 1.
1. a cheap saloon, esp. one in New Orleans in the early part of the 20th century: so called from the racks of liquor barrels originally placed along the walls.
2. a vigorous style of jazz originating in the barrelhouses of New Orleans in the early part of the 20th century.
[ 1880-85, Amer.; BARREL + HOUSE ]