bum factory

English

Etymology

From bum (“tramp, vagrant”) +‎ factory, the idea being that the existence of such establishments supposedly encourages people to become vagrants.

Noun

bum factory (plural bum factories)

  1. (US, informal, dated) An establishment that sells alcoholic drinks, such as a saloon or liquor store.
  2. (US, informal, dated) A cheap place for lodging, such as a hostel or a charitable mission house; flophouse.
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