A counting house, or compting house, literally is the building, room, office or suite in which a business firm carries on operations, particularly accounting. By an obvious synecdoche, it has come to mean the accounting operations of a firm, however housed. The term is British in origin and is primarily used in the context of the 19th century or earlier periods. Look up Business in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... It has been suggested that Accounting scholarship be merged into this article or section. ... Look up synecdoche in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... It has been suggested that Accounting scholarship be merged into this article or section. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...