The Aramaic noun nevaluw means a refuse heap, a dunghill, or a ruin. It describes a place of utter desolation and degradation — the lowest and most shameful state to which a structure or place could be reduced. The word appears in royal decrees as the ultimate punishment for disobedience.
In the Aramaic portions of Daniel and Ezra, this word appears in the context of royal threats — the houses of those who defy God or His decree would be turned into a dunghill. This extreme penalty reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding that destruction of one's house represented the annihilation of legacy and family honor. God uses even pagan kings to enforce respect for His name and purposes.