Meaning

noun structures collectively in which people are housed

noun a protective cover designed to contain or support a mechanical component

noun stable gear consisting of a decorated covering for a horse, especially (formerly) for a warhorse

originFrom Middle English housynge, housinge, from housen (“to house, shelter; receive into one's house”), equivalent to house + -ing. Cognate with Scots housing (“housing”), Old Frisian hūsinge (whence Saterland Frisian Huzenge); compare also Dutch huizing, behuizing (“housing”), Low German husing, hüsing (“housing”), German Behausung (“housing”), Swedish inhysing (“housing”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0