Here's a breakdown:
* Quonset Point: This is the name of a peninsula and naval base in Rhode Island.
* Naval Air Station: This is a military facility specializing in aircraft operations.
* Buildings: During the war, the base needed temporary, sturdy, and rapidly constructible buildings for housing, workshops, and other purposes. The "Quonset hut" design, with its curved, arch-like shape, was ideal for these needs.
Therefore, the term "quonset" is derived from the place of origin of the structure – the Quonset Point Naval Air Station – and became a generic term for the building type itself.