Morgue

Morgue

Noun · /mɔːɡ/

Definition

A place where dead bodies are kept, especially before burial or identification; used figuratively to describe an organisation, environment, or publication that is lifeless, dull, or dead.

Origin

From French morgue (a place to expose corpses for identification), possibly from morguer (to look solemnly at), of uncertain further origin. The word appearing in English from the 19th century. The original Paris Morgue being a public institution established in the 18th century on the Île de la Cité where corpses found in the city were displayed behind glass for public identification — a practice that attracted considerable public attention and even tourism. Newspapers also use morgue informally to mean their archive of old clippings and reference materials.