barroom
UK[ˈbɑːruːm]US[ˈbɑːrruːm]
n
a room in a pub, hotel, or other establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter.
Morpheme Breakdown
bar
room
bar
counter
room
chamber
Etymology
the word 'barroom' is a transparent compound formed within modern english. its first element, 'bar', traces back through old french 'barre' to vulgar latin 'barra', originally meaning a barrier or rod, which evolved to denote the counter over which drinks are served. the second element, 'room', derives from old english 'rūm', signifying a space or enclosed area. the compound logically combines these elements to denote the specific chamber or space containing the serving counter, a term that became commonplace in american english during the 19th century to distinctly identify a saloon or tavern's main drinking area.
Analysis
Structure: bar (counter) + room (chamber)
bar (from old french barre, meaning a rod, barrier, or counter; functions as the core noun specifying the type of establishment). room (from old english rūm, meaning space or chamber; functions as a noun suffix specifying the location).
Examples
the old barroom was filled with the sound of laughter and clinking glasses.
he stepped out of the noisy barroom to get some fresh air.
the historic hotel's barroom features original wooden fixtures and a long mahogany counter.