locker-room
UK[ˈlɒkə ruːm]US[ˈlɑːkər ruːm]
n
A room, especially in a gym, sports center, or workplace, containing lockers where people can change their clothes and store their belongings.
n
(attributive) Relating to or characteristic of the crude, vulgar, or sexually explicit talk or humor considered typical of such an environment.
Morpheme Breakdown
locker
room
locker
noun
room
noun
Etymology
The compound noun 'locker-room' is a straightforward combination of two Old English elements. 'Locker' evolved from the verb 'to lock', referring to a secure storage compartment, while 'room' has consistently meant an enclosed space. The term literally describes a space equipped with such lockers, originally for practical storage. Its primary association with athletic facilities, where individuals change and store gear, solidified in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Over time, the term developed a secondary, attributive sense, evoking the coarse, masculine-associated banter stereotypically heard in such spaces, demonstrating how a physical location's name can come to symbolize a specific social atmosphere.
Analysis
Structure: locker (noun) + room (noun)
- locker: From Middle English 'lokken', from Old English 'locian' (to lock, close). Origin: Old English. Functional role: A noun derived from the verb 'lock', denoting a container that can be locked.
- room: From Middle English 'roum', from Old English 'rūm' (space, extent). Origin: Old English. Functional role: A noun denoting an enclosed space or area.
Examples
After the match, the team gathered in the locker-room for a pep talk.
The new aquatic center features separate locker-rooms for men and women.
His jokes were dismissed as mere locker-room talk, inappropriate for a professional setting.