casual ward

casual ward (plural casual wards)

1. (historical) The section of a workhouse where tramps and itinerants could be accommodated for one night.
   • 1931, Eric Blair (the real name of George Orwell), "Hop-picking" in The New Statesman of 17th October 1931.

     It is no wonder that itinerant agricultural workers travel on the toby and sleep in casual wards between jobs.

• spike