poolroom
UK[ˈpuːlruːm]US[ˈpuːlruːm]
n
A room where the game of pool is played.
n
A room where off-track betting on horse races is conducted.
Morpheme Breakdown
pool
room
pool
game
room
space
Etymology
The word 'poolroom' is a transparent compound formed from two native English elements. The first element, 'pool', referring to the cue sport, entered English in the 19th century, likely from the French 'poule', which denoted the collective stakes in a game. The second element, 'room', is a foundational Germanic word for an enclosed space, tracing back to Old English 'rūm'. The compound's literal meaning, "a room for playing pool," logically extended in American English to also describe establishments for off-track betting, as such venues historically often contained pool tables as a secondary attraction, with the primary business being wagering on horse races transmitted by telegraph.
Analysis
Structure: pool (game) + room (space)
- pool: From Middle English 'pol', meaning a game played on a table with balls and cues. Its origin is uncertain but may be from French 'poule', meaning 'stake, kitty'.
- room: From Old English 'rūm', meaning 'space, extent, chamber'. Of Germanic origin, related to Dutch 'ruim' and German 'Raum'.
Examples
The old poolroom downtown has been a gathering place for players for over fifty years.
He placed his bet at the poolroom, watching the race results come in on the wire.
The smell of chalk and cigarette smoke was characteristic of the classic American poolroom.