parlour

American  

[pahr-ler] / ˈpɑr lər /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. parlor.

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parlour British  

/ ˈpɑːlə /

noun

1. old-fashioned a living room, esp one kept tidy for the reception of visitors

2. a reception room in a priest's house, convent, etc

3. a small room for guests away from the public rooms in an inn, club, etc

4. a room or shop equipped as a place of business

   a billiard parlor

5. a small shop, esp one selling cakes and nonalcoholic drinks

6. Also called: milking parlour.  a building equipped for the milking of cows

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Spelling

See -or ¹.

Etymology

Origin of parlour

C13: from Anglo-Norman parlur, from Old French parleur room in convent for receiving guests, from parler to speak; see _parley

Example Sentences

Mr Lamb's business is expected to be joined by hundreds of others, from restaurants and tattoo parlours to toy stores.

From BBC

"A lot of farms will be in similar positions having borrowed money to put up a beef shed or for a dairy parlour or to buy a combine," Mr Aveling said.

From BBC

Speaking to the BBC, the couple said they found Macie-Mae's body on the sofa at the funeral director's home, six miles away from the funeral parlour where they thought her body was being looked after.

From BBC

Legume hordes like clover pull nitrogen from the air, reducing the use of chemical fertilisers, and the milking parlour is 80-percent solar- and wind-powered.

From Barron's

Reflecting on the possible reason, she said "I know I am not in the in-crowd. I don't play some of the parlour games".

From BBC

Related Words

• drawing room
• parlor
• salon
• sitting room