The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Hovel \Hov"el\, n. [OE. hovel, hovil, prob. a dim. fr. AS. hof
   house; akin to D. & G. hof court, yard, Icel. hof temple; cf.
   Prov. E. hove to take shelter, heuf shelter, home.]
   1. An open shed for sheltering cattle, or protecting produce,
      etc., from the weather. --Brande & C.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A poor cottage; a small, mean house; a hut.
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   3. (Porcelain Manuf.) A large conical brick structure around
      which the firing kilns are grouped. --Knight.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Hovel \Hov"el\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hoveledor Hovelled; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Hoveling or Hovelling.]
   To put in a hovel; to shelter.
   [1913 Webster]

         To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlon. --Shak.
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         The poor are hoveled and hustled together. --Tennyson.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

hovel
    n 1: small crude shelter used as a dwelling [syn: hovel,
         hut, hutch, shack, shanty]

The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

HOVEL, n.  The fruit of a flower called the Palace.

        Twaddle had a hovel,
            Twiddle had a palace;
        Twaddle said:  "I'll grovel
            Or he'll think I bear him malice" --
    A sentiment as novel
        As a castor on a chalice.

        Down upon the middle
            Of his legs fell Twaddle
        And astonished Mr. Twiddle,
            Who began to lift his noddle.
        Feed upon the fiddle-
            Faddle flummery, unswaddle
    A new-born self-sufficiency and think himself a [mockery.]
                                                                  G.J.