Adjacent Words

public house definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: tavern consisting of a building with a bar and public rooms; often provides light meals [syn: public house, pub, saloon, pothouse, gin mill, taphouse]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: 1658 1. inn, hostelry 2. chiefly British a licensed saloon or bar

Britannica Concise

Establishment that serves alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, especially in Britain. Under English common law, inns and taverns were declared public houses responsible for the well-being of travelers. They were expected to receive all travelers in reasonable condition who were willing to pay for food, drink, and lodging. In Tudor England, certain innkeepers were obliged by royal act to maintain stables; others served as unofficial postmasters. The early public houses were identified by simple signs that featured creatures such as lions, dolphins, or swans. In the 18th cent., the word Arms was added to many pub names to indicate that the establishment was under the protection of a noble family. Though British public houses were traditionally owned and operated by independent licensed proprietors, by the early 20th cent. many were owned or associated with brewery companies.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Public Pub"lic, a. [L. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people: cf. F. public. See People.] 1. Of or pertaining to the people; belonging to the people; relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community; -- opposed to private; as, the public treasury. To the public good Private respects must yield. --Milton. He [Alexander Hamilton] touched the dead corpse of the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet. --D. Webster. 2. Open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common; notorious; as, public report; public scandal. Joseph, . . . not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. --Matt. i. 19. 3. Open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public house. ``The public street.'' --Shak. Public act or statute (Law), an act or statute affecting matters of public concern. Of such statutes the courts take judicial notice. Public credit. See under Credit. Public funds. See Fund, 3. Public house, an inn, or house of entertainment. Public law. (a) See International law, under International. (b) A public act or statute. Public nuisance. (Law) See under Nuisance. Public orator. (Eng. Universities) See Orator, 3. Public stores, military and naval stores, equipments, etc. Public works, all fixed works built by civil engineers for public use, as railways, docks, canals, etc.; but strictly, military and civil engineering works constructed at the public cost.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(public houses) A public house is the same as a pub. (BRIT FORMAL) N-COUNT

Moby Thesaurus

alehouse, bar, barrel house, barroom, beer garden, beer parlor, bistro, blind tiger, boardinghouse, cabaret, cafe, cocktail lounge, dive, dorm, dormitory, doss house, dramshop, drinkery, drinking saloon, fleabag, flophouse, gin mill, groggery, grogshop, guest house, honky-tonk, hospice, hostel, hostelry, hotel, inn, local, lodge, lodging house, nightclub, ordinary, pension, posada, pothouse, pub, public, rathskeller, roadhouse, rooming house, rummery, rumshop, saloon, saloon bar, speakeasy, taproom, tavern, wine shop