Morgue

The AHD defines morgue as "A place in which the bodies of persons found dead are kept until identified and claimed or until arrangements for burial have been made." Though my attraction to this word stemmed from its heavy, guttural feel, its heritage is also fairly interesting. Morgues in general are named after one Parisian building, La Morgue, which was used as such. The name of that building probably came from the French word of the same spelling meaning "haughty manner," which came from the Old French word, morguer, meaning "to look at solemnly" (AHD). It is possible that word has roots in the Vulgar Latin word 'murricāre'--"to make a face"--and therefore in "murrum" which means "muzzle" (AHD). At one level this focus on facial expressions makes sense, as morgues undoubtedly contain a very particular demeanor.

-All etymological information taken from the American Heritage College Dictionary.