from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hospital \Hos"pi*tal\, n. [OF. hospital, ospital, F. h[^o]pital,
LL. hospitale (or perh. E. hospital is directly from the Late
Latin), from L. hospitalis relating to a guest, hospitalia
apartments for guests, fr. hospes guest. See {Host} a
landlord, and cf. {Hostel}, {Hotel}, {Spital}.]
1. A place for shelter or entertainment; an inn. [Obs.]
--Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
2. A building in which the sick, injured, or infirm are
received and treated; a public or private institution
founded for reception and cure, or for the refuge, of
persons diseased in body or mind, or disabled, infirm, or
dependent, and in which they are treated either at their
own expense, or more often by charity in whole or in part;
a tent, building, or other place where the sick or wounded
of an army cared for.
[1913 Webster]
{Hospital ship}, a vessel fitted up for a floating hospital.
{Hospital Sunday}, a Sunday set apart for simultaneous
contribution in churches to hospitals; as, the London
Hospital Sunday.
[1913 Webster]