"Inmate" Was Term Used to Describe Poor House Residents

Abstract

Today we associate the term "inmate" with people who are involuntarily held in a jail or prison, but the word dates back to the 1500s and was frequently used to describe anyone who shared a residence such as a hotel visitor, or college student living on campus. The term "inmate" was also used to describe those who were placed into the County Home, those where were physically disabled or unable to care for themselves.