Auto court is a dated North American term for a motel — the roadside accommodation designed specifically for travelers arriving by car.
Auto court is a dated North American term for a motel — the roadside accommodation designed specifically for travelers arriving by car. Back when motels were a fresh concept in mid-20th century America, 'auto court' described those early motor-friendly lodgings where you could pull right up to your room. The term has largely been replaced by 'motel' and 'motor inn,' but auto court has a nostalgic charm that evokes Route 66, road trip culture, and the golden age of American automobile travel.
They pulled off the highway and checked into a little auto court that hadn't changed much since the 1950s.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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(North America, dated) A motel.
A dated North American term for what we now call a motel — a roadside lodging built to accommodate travelers arriving by car, with parking right outside each room. Motor courts were the mid-20th century answer to long road trips, giving drivers a convenient, affordable place to stop without the formality of a traditional hotel. The term conjures neon signs, Route 66, and the golden age of American road travel before 'motel' became the universal word.
A public building housing courts of law.
(US, criminal justice) A criminal court which operates at night for certain routine functions such as granting bail and issuing charges.
(North America, dated) A motel.