stillhouse
The shed or setup where liquor gets cooked off a still.
Also called still house, distillery.
Updated September 24, 2026
stillhouse pronunciation
/STILL-hous/
Meaning
A stillhouse is where the still lives and runs. In Appalachian and rural Southern talk, that usually means a rough shed, lean-to, or hidden spot in a holler where moonshine gets made, not a downtown tasting room. Folks talk about heading to the stillhouse the way other people talk about heading to the shop. Smoke, mash smell, and a lookout for the law go with the territory in the old stories.
How folks use it
- “He spent half the night down at the stillhouse tending the fire.”
- “Revenue men tore through that holler looking for the stillhouse.”
Origin and etymology
Plain compound of still (the cooking gear) and house (the building around it). English has used still-house for a distillery for centuries. In the mountains it stuck as everyday talk for small-batch and illegal whiskey setups, and moonshining lore keeps the word alive.
Frequently asked questions
Is a stillhouse always illegal?
No. Legal distilleries use the word too. In old redneck talk, though, it often meant a hidden moonshine setup.