Workhouse (noun)

1. A public institution where poor people are provided with accommodation and work, typically in return for a wage.
2. A place where work is done, especially in a factory or workshop.

Origin:

Late 16th century: originally a house in which work was done, later a poorhouse.

Examples:

1. In the 19th century, workhouses were considered a last resort for the destitute and poverty-stricken.
2. Many children were sent to the workhouse for not being able to provide for themselves.
3. The workhouse was a grim, dreary place where people went to live and work.
4. The workshop was a busy place, filled with the sounds of hammers and saws.
5. The factory was a workhouse, where machines ran 24 hours a day.