barrelhouse

American  

[bar-uhl-hous] / ˈbær əlˌhaʊs /

noun

plural

barrelhouses

1. a cheap saloon, especially one in New Orleans in the early part of the 20th century: so called from the racks of liquor barrels originally placed along the walls.

2. a vigorous style of jazz originating in the barrelhouses of New Orleans in the early part of the 20th century.

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barrelhouse British  

/ ˈbærəlˌhaʊs /

noun

1. a cheap and disreputable drinking establishment

2. 1. a vigorous and unpolished style of jazz for piano, originating in the barrelhouses of New Orleans

   2. ( as modifier )

      barrelhouse blues

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Etymology

Origin of barrelhouse

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; barrel + house

Example Sentences

Across the record, Batiste also raps, stomps like a preacher and wails like a barrelhouse bluesman.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2022

He plays me the first few bars of something caught between ragtime and barrelhouse, full of stride piano left-hand chords, his long fingers flicking this way and that.

From The Guardian • Sep. 30, 2018

Otis launched his professional music career as an 18-year-old drummer for bawdy barrelhouse pianist Count Otis Matthews, although he had never played the drums until then.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 19, 2012

He appropriated the tune from the repertory of the barrelhouse piano player Clarence Smith, who was also known as Pinetop.

From New York Times • Mar. 22, 2011

A barrelhouse blues was being shouted over the stamping of feet on a wooden floor.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou