- a variation of parlor.
parlour
Americannoun
noun
-
old-fashioned a living room, esp one kept tidy for the reception of visitors
-
a reception room in a priest's house, convent, etc
-
a small room for guests away from the public rooms in an inn, club, etc
-
a room or shop equipped as a place of business
a billiard parlor
-
a small shop, esp one selling cakes and nonalcoholic drinks
-
Also called: milking parlour. a building equipped for the milking of cows
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A man who spent £550 on a huge tattoo declaring England as World Cup 2026 winners has returned to the parlour to add the phrase "just joking!"
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
In police interviews, Bush – whose funeral parlour was found in a state of chaos when officers raided it – told how debts had accrued, leaving him unable to pay for cremations.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
The cows like it too, it seems, and crucially, they linger in the milking parlour, clearly cool and relaxed.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Beverley, her husband and other families are campaigning for changes to funeral parlour regulations, backed by a number of lawmakers.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
She came in holding a large vase of flowers and said with a smile: 'Mr Stevens, I thought these would brighten your parlour a little.'
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
