music-hall
UK[ˈmjuːzɪk hɔːl]US[ˈmjuːzɪk hɔːl]
n
A theatre or other venue for variety entertainment, featuring a series of separate acts such as singers, comedians, and acrobats.
n
The type of entertainment performed in such a venue.
Morpheme Breakdown
music
hall
music
art form
hall
large room
Etymology
The compound "music-hall" is a straightforward English formation from two ancient roots. "Music" traces back to the Greek 'Mousa' (Muse), the goddesses of the arts, via Latin, signifying the artistic performance aspect. "Hall" is a robust Old English word for a large covered space, from Proto-Germanic, used for communal gatherings. The term emerged in the 19th century to describe urban venues dedicated to popular variety entertainment, where the "music" component broadened from classical connotations to include popular songs and comedic performances, all housed within the communal "hall." Thus, the term literally denotes a hall for musical (and related) entertainment, reflecting its social function.
Analysis
Structure: music (art form) + hall (large room)
- music: From Old French 'musique', from Latin 'musica', from Greek 'mousikē (tekhnē)' meaning "(art) of the Muses". Functions as a noun modifier describing the type of hall.
- hall: From Old English 'heall' meaning "large residence, building for public gatherings". Functions as the core noun, the place or building.
Examples
Charlie Chaplin began his career as a child performer in British music-halls.
The old music-hall tradition heavily influenced early radio and television variety shows.
We spent the evening at a music-hall, enjoying a bill of comedians, magicians, and singers.