barracoon
/ˌbarəˈkuːn
/noun historical
An enclosure in which black slaves were confined for a limited period.Conditions for the African slaves during the Middle Passage are worse than theirs in the barracoons....
- While they negotiated with the ships, they locked us up in big cages on the shore called barracoons.
- A signal was made from the vessel, and soon afterwards I saw a long line of slaves coming forth from behind a wood which concealed the barracoons where they had been confined.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Spanish barracón, from barraca 'soldier's tent' (see barracks).