What is mews? How to use in English

The word "mews" originally referred to a courtyard, stable, or row of stables and coach houses situated behind a grand townhouse in medieval and early modern London. These buildings, which housed the owners' horses and carriages, were given the name "mews" due to the high-pitched cries of domestic cats ("meows") that could be heard echoing through the alleyways as the felines attempted to prey on the small birds and rodents that inhabited the area. Over time, the term "mews" came to describe not just the buildings themselves, but also the narrow laneways that connected them, creating an intimate and secluded section of the city that was also known as "little Spain" due to the many Spanish residents and the floral decorations ("spains") that adorned the facades of the buildings. Today, while some old card-playing clubs and stables still occupy mews properties in London, they have largely been converted into highly coveted residences valued for their heritage, space, and privacy in an increasingly crowded and bustling metropolis.