saloon
UK: səˈluːn | US: səˈluːn
n. a large public room or hall, especially in a hotel or theater, used for entertainment or social gatherings
n. (historical) a place where alcoholic drinks were sold and consumed; a bar or tavern
n. (British) a sedan automobile
saloon = sal<large room> + oon<noun suffix>
- sal (from French salon, meaning "large room" or "reception hall")
- oon (a variant of the suffix -on, often used in loanwords from French to denote a place or object)
Etymology Origin:
The word saloon entered English in the early 18th century from French salon, originally referring to a large reception hall. Over time, it evolved to denote public rooms in hotels or theaters, and later (in the U.S.) became associated with bars or taverns. The British usage for a type of car (short for saloon car) emerged in the early 20th century, borrowing the idea of an enclosed, comfortable space.
The hotel's grand saloon was decorated for the evening ball.
Cowboys gathered in the saloon for drinks after a long day on the ranch.
He drove a sleek black saloon through the city streets.
The theater saloon hosted live music performances every weekend.
In the 19th century, saloons were central to social life in many American towns.