A block house is a type of fortification made of large, heavy blocks of stone or wood. It was used in the past as a defensive structure, often during times of war. The term 'block house' can also be used to refer to a small, one-room dwelling made of wood or stone. An igloo is a type of block house made from blocks of snow and ice, traditionally used by the Inuit people of the Arctic region as a form of shelter.