coffeehouse

American  

[kaw-fee-hous, kof-ee-] / ˈkɔ fiˌhaʊs, ˈkɒf i- /

noun

plural

coffeehouses

1. a public place that specializes in serving coffee and other refreshments and that sometimes provides informal entertainment.

2. (in 17th- and 18th-century England) a similar establishment where groups met for a particular purpose, as for informal discussions or card playing.

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verb (used without object)

coffeehoused, coffeehousing

1. Informal. to engage in aimless talk or chitchat.

2. Cards. to make remarks and gestures during play with the purpose of misleading opponents as to the cards one holds.

Other Word Forms

• coffeehouser noun

Etymology

Origin of coffeehouse

First recorded in 1605–15; coffee + house

Example Sentences

Lloyd’s to this day has liveried staff called waiters, a throwback to its 1688 beginnings in Edward Lloyd’s coffeehouse close to the River Thames.

From The Wall Street Journal

Starbucks has been working hard to bring back customers, promising faster service and a return its coffeehouse roots, with ceramic mugs and hand-written notes.

From BBC

As part of the deal, it plans to build “a specially-designed” coffeehouse in the Olympic and Paralympic villages, and will serve coffee across competition venues, volunteer hubs and other locations.

From Los Angeles Times

Starbucks helped spread coffeehouse culture across the U.S. starting in the 1980s, introducing many Americans to dark-roasted coffee served in a cafe setting.

From The Wall Street Journal

I just gave you an all-American spot and a Japanese coffeehouse after leaving a very diverse church.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• coffee bar