parlour

[ pahr-ler ]

noun

, Chiefly British.

1. parlor.

parlour

/ 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 calledmilking parlour a building equipped for the milking of cows

Spelling Note

See -or ¹.

Word History and Origins

Origin of parlour¹

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

Example Sentences

The release of the video might also explain why the prince was seen in a tattoo parlour in New York earlier this year.

From BBC

"No-one has been able to nail down who exactly has benefited. It’s almost like a beer parlour gossip about who is getting what," says Toyin Akinosho of the Africa Oil+Gas Report.

From BBC

Antrim and Newtownabbey council has put up the portrait of the King outside the mayor's office and the portrait of the late Queen has been moved into the council art collection in the mayor's parlour.

From BBC

But when a Taiwanese dessert parlour opened earlier this year it kickstarted a transformation that brought a flavour of East Asia to West Yorkshire and helped create a home from home for many international students.

From BBC

He spent two and a half hours at the Reign Barbers and Tattoos parlour in Swindon getting the sizeable tattoo on his left leg.

From BBC

Related Words

• drawing room
• parlor
• salon
• sitting room