Is It Really a Pub?
Or, is it a Tavern, or a Bar, or a Saloon, or a Tap Room, or a Punch House, or maybe ... ?

   When I go walking through the door of a drinking establishment, I often think to myself, "Am I walking into a pub, a bar, a lounge, a tavern, or what? Officially, what is this place?"
  Is there a distinct, universally applied definition for all these places that sell booze, whatever their way, shape or form? Well, yes and no. In the first sense, there is the dictionary definition - short concise and to the point, but even dictionaries differ, albeit slightly, on the exact meaning of a word. Etymology - the origin and history of words - can actually be quite interesting - well sometimes if you have a spare moment - and can give one the sense of where a word came from and how it has changed over the years.
  For example, let's take the word "beer." One reference has it that the origin of the word "beer" is much disputed amongst the experts, and is of a rather ambiguous origin. The old English word is "beor," while the Middle Dutch is "bier," the Old High German is "bior," and the Old Frisian is "biar." All of these words may - and I emphasize may -  have come from old German monks using the Latin word "biber," which means a drink or a beverage. Then there is the idea that the word "beer" came from the really old Germanic word "beuwoz," which comes from the word "beuwo," which means barley. Try walking into you local pub and ordering a couple pints of beuwoz.
  Here's another one: The word "lager" is actually an American English word coined around the middle of the 1800s. The German word you are thinking of is actually "lagerbier," which can be translated as "beer brewed for keeping." The American took the root word and just shortened it, and now it is universally used the world over. Of course, the German word "lagerhaus" is translated as "store house."
  Anyway, back to drinking establishments. The world of etymology, while it is trying its best, in not an exact science, and with that in mind, can the title of a certain type of any drinking establishment be properly defined? In some cases there is a vague definition. Take, for example, the "free house." In the most basic sense a "free house" is a drinking establishment, usually in the British Isles someplace, that is not beholding to one brewery, it is "free" to buy its products from anyone. But is the aforementioned free house also a pub, a bar, a saloon? Does it perhaps, as in some cases, have both a bar and a saloon on the premises?  When is a bar also considered a lounge. Are there pubs in the United States, at the same time are there lounges in the UK?  All good questions. I think I need to sit down, have a beer, and think about it.
   Now, in some instances there is actually a legal description on the books. Take Connecticut, for example, where there is a legal difference between a bar and a tavern. Of course, this legal tenet is not applicable over the border in Massachusetts. I am sure if you dig around in state and local statute books you will find more such examples. That is, if you have nothing else to do in you life.
   And, then there is the whole world of slang, which requires a complete, independent dictionary of its own.
   So, listed below are some of the more common terms associated with, and applied to, drinking establishments, some familiar and some not quite so. As you can see, it's not a simple matter. Just when you think you have nailed down the meaning, the date of origin and the area of usage, someone comes up with something completely different. The bottom line - well, there is no bottom line - is it's all quite variable, and I think it's kind of fun. The following is just the tip of the iceberg - something to get the chat started. Got something to add - of course you do - drop me a line anytime. Be nice - Cheers!       Dave

 Ale Booth (old English): This is good one. The exact date of this term is not certain, but it certainly harkens back to the late 660s to early 700s, during the reign of Ine (or Ini, or Ina - 670 to 728, give or take a year or two), King of Wessex. Ine was considered one of the first kings in Britain to actually put laws down in print. One such law, believed to be issued first during his rule, was the regulating of a rather large number of “ale-booths” or “ale-stands” that had popped up around his kingdom. What actually constituted an ale-booth is not exactly clear. Later literature seems to indicate that an ale booth was a temporary structure erected for a fair, fete, or other public gathering. There is an obscure reference to an owner of an ale-booth in a 4 April 1397, legal proceeding in Nottingham. It seems that one Hugonem de Wilmeslowe, the owner of an “aleboth” was being sued by one Johannes Turnour over some assumed debt. The author Thomas Gaspey notes in his book “The Monks of Leadenhall” (1823), that there was an ale-booth at a fair in Canterbury. In the 1891 book “Men of Iron” by Howard Pyle, there is a passage that reads: “Old Diccon, who had gone with him to the fair, had met some cronies of his own, with whom he had sat gossiping in the ale-booth.” Later, Old Diccon ran out of the ale house to go see a fight, he still had his ale-pot in his hand.
One can imagine that an ale booth would be quite similar to the beer stand at any modern fair or sporting event.

Ale House or Alehouse (dated, British): Pretty self explanatory, here. From the old English "ealahus" and/or "ealusels." One reference indicates that what differentiates an alehouse from a tavern is that they serve wine in a tavern. There are also a few references that indicate an Ale House was an unlicensed establishment, as compared to a licensed public house. By some definition an Ale House and a Tippling House are the same. Perhaps an unlicensed ale house could be subsequently be called a public house, once the proper licensed was issued.
  Please refer to "Tippling House" below.

Ale Stand: See Ale House, above.

Bar: A counter, room or place where alcoholic drinks or refreshments are served. By most accounts the word "bar" came from the Latin word "barra" meaning a barrier of some sort.  This then was morphed into the French word "Barre." One theory was that this word was used as far back as the 1500s to mean the counter or bar that separated the server or bartender from the patron. Therefore, one would be served drinks over - or on - the bar. It is not a stretch of the imagination to see how this word would soon be used to denote the entire drinking establishment. At some point in history, someone said, "Let's go to the bar." From that point on the word meant the entire establishment. Another application of the word was a physical barrier, or bar, between the drinking and non-drinking parts of a restaurant or cafe. Of course, the word "bar" is associated with many other things, but almost always pertaining to some type of counter or barrier, i.e. a snack bar, a raw bar, coffee bar, etc...

“It was the evening of a market day, and some half-dozen middle-aged farmers and dairymen were lounging round the bar of the Black Bull Hotel, occasionally dropping a remark to each other, and less frequently to the two barmaids who stood within the pewter-topped counter in a perfunctory attitude of attention.” An excerpt from the short story “Fellow-Townsmen,” which appeared in the book “Wessex Tales,” by Thomas Hardy. This story originally appeared in the “New Quarterly Magazine,” Spring 1879.

Beer House (older British): A public house, tavern, inn, etc... that is licensed to only sell beer. See Licensed House below.

Beer Parlor or Parlour (informal, Canadian): A room where beer is served would be the most basic of definitions, perhaps more specifically a room in a hotel where beer is served. The funny thing is that I have done a lot of travelling, and drinking, in Canada and I can honestly say I don't know if I was ever in a beer parlor. I probably have been, many times, but just didn't know I was in one. Also, I have done a bit of digging on the original of the phrase, and I really can't find too much. There is a Canadian Oxford Dictionary (1998) out there, but I don't have a copy. So, basically, a beer parlor is a room where beer is served in Canada. It's slang. Anybody have anything more? Been to a beer parlor lately - drop me a line and tell me about it. Canadian humorist Bert Christensen summed it up by noting: "A beer parlor is like an ice cream parlor, but for Canadians."

Boozer (informal British): Enough said.

Bough House: Back in the olden days in Britain, well back in the 1800s and into the past, under a certain set of rules a private person could sell ale, beer and other drinks to the general public out of their own private house. This would be considered a “Private House” versus a “Public House.” Oftentimes the rules stated that this business was allowable only during times of festivals, fairs and market days. A Private House would use the age-old advertisement for a drinking establishment, namely displaying a bit of shrubbery, ivy, or a holly bush bough on a pole placed above the front door, thus the term “Bough House.”

Bush House: Same as a Bough House, see above, and the excerpt to the right.

Coffee Room: Historical texts tend to vary a bit, but it is generally accepted that coffee was widely introduced to Britain in the 17th century. And, it turned out to become quite popular, so much so that many large drinking establishments cordoned off a special room for the consumption of coffee - the Coffee Room.

Cocktail Lounge (mostly North American): Let's break this down into the two words - cocktail first. Like just about all words "cocktail" has a number of different origins, so instead of relating the more esoteric versions, I will give you one of the most accepted. So, the word "cocktail" is generally assumed to have come from the French word "coquetier" which means "egg cup." So far so good, but how does an egg cup relate to a mixed drink. Well, apparently in the late 1700s, a New Orleans apothecary named Antoine Peychaud was known for his mixed alcoholic concoctions that he served in an egg cup - a coquetier. Monsieur Peychaud called his drinks after the coquetier - the egg cups - in which they were served. Makes sense.
Of course, there are many other ideas as to the first use of the word “cocktail.” Please see the inset below.
  One reference has the first use of the phrase "cocktail party" dated to 1928.
  Please scroll down to the "Lounge" entry for more.

Dram Shop, or sometimes Dramshop: While most drinking establishments - pubs, taverns, bars - have a certain social aspect about them - meeting with friends, relatives, town folk, etc… - a dram shop, in its most basic sense, is simply a place to knock back hard alcohol, and a lot of it - fast and cheap. So, while a patron of the local pub may stop in for a quick pint and a chin wag with his mates, the dram shop habitue is there simply to get drunk - again, fast and cheap. Indeed, even the dram shop proprietor is suspect, often taking relatively good alcohol - usually gin, back in the olden days - and tainting it with adulterants to make it more profitable. In the book London As It Is (London, 1837) author John Hogg notes: “It is well known that the gin that is consumed in London is composed of the most destructive poisons; gin, in its pure state, is a most wholesome spirit; but the London dram-shop keeper, to make the liquor intoxicating and at the same time to increase his profit on its sale, adds oil of vitriol, sugar of lead [yikes - sugar of lead???!], alum, turpentine, and other drugs in large proportions, reckless alike of his own character and of the injury he inflicts on the community.”
Although the word “dram” - meaning a certain weight or quantity - dates back to at least the early 15th Century, for our purposes it means a certain quantity of liquor, variably to around an ounce, give or take. The term “dram shop” dates back to the early 1700s, in England, when shops began to open that sold hard liquor by the dram. Basically, you pay you money, you get a shot. Some dram shops didn’t even have tables and chairs. So, as can be seen, the dram shop was often not looked upon with favor.
Even today, particularly in the United States, there are laws on the books of many cities called “Dram Shop Laws.” These laws make the bar owner liable for getting the patron drunk, and thus liable for the actions of the patron while drink - drunk driving, for example.

Free Hold vs Lease Hold: These are another example of terms that have various meanings in various times. In the most basic sense, a free hold - or freehold - is a property that is owned outright, whereas conversely a lease hold - leasehold - is a property that is only rented by the occupant. Simple, really. You often find, especially in ancient old documents, that both of these terms are used in conjunction with a public house. Basically, if the publican owns his building and the land it sits upon, the pub is a free hold pub. It should be noted that both of these terms apply to almost any piece of property, not just public houses, and that the exact meaning of the terms has changes over the years. Of course, these terms should not be confused the term “free house.”

Free House (British): A public house or other drinking establishment not controlled by a brewery, and therefore not restricted to selling that brewery's products. Also see "Tied House" and "Managed House."

Groggery (American): From the book “Dictionary of Americanisms - A Glossary of Words and Phrases” (1860) - “A place where spirituous liquors are sold and drank; a grog shop. In the West [U.S.], often called a Doggery or a Dog Hole, and in New York a Rum-hole.”
Interestingly the use of a more traditionally British word - grog. Of course, the word “grog” is related and associated with Admiral Vernon - an 18th Century British naval officer who was nicknamed “Old Grog,” for his characteristic grogram cloak. By the way, grogram was a coarse material made up of silk and mohair.

Hostelry: I had to look this word up after hearing Chief Inspector Morse use it several times while he was on the case. It seems that the Chief Inspector always needed a pint or two at the local “hostelry” to help him solve a particularly vexing case, of course bringing Lewis along in tow.
The word “hostelry” is one of those words that is very old, and has had many meanings over the years. It is generally assumed that it dates back to at least the 12th Century, and is a play on the old French word “hostelerie” - or “ostelrie” - meaning a guest house, kitchen house, hospice, or almshouse. The root “hostel” generally means a house, and dates back even further. It does not take a stretch of the imagination to see how the word has today become to mean a drinking establishment.

Here’s a quote from the book titled the “Queen’s Rifle Volunteer Brigade (1888): “In the twelfth century, thee existed a ferry between Earlsferry and North Berwick, and for the accommodation of travellers (sic), the Nuns of North Berwick erected an (sic) hospital or hostelry, now in ruins, at Earlsferry Point, about the year 1154.” No mention of whether or not the nuns served ale, but one would hope so. Of note is the fact that in the old Medieval Latin the word “hospitale” is thought to have meant a large house, or an inn.

Inn (Old English): A house or building that provides lodgings to the public. Presumably derived from the Old English word "inne," which is actually means "within" or "inside." As far back as the 1200s, the term "inn" was often applied to a pubic house, but traditionally only to one that also provided food and/or accommodation. Being a general word, "Inn" can also apply to an establishment that also serves beer, wine and spirits.

Licensed House (mostly British): In the most basic sense, a Licensed House is simply a drinking establishment that is authorized - or licensed - to carry on its trade by the local government. By limiting the number of licenses issued the local government can control the number, and type, of drinking establishments in a given area. The exact definition of what the issued license actually entails has changed down through the years, so it is rather difficult to give an accurate, catch-all,  meaning of the term "Licensed House." For example, there is the "Full License," meaning an establishment can serve both beer and spirits. An establishment may have a "Beer License," but not a "Spirits License," so beer can be sold, but no hard liquor. If it is perceived that the local populace is getting a bit to fond of hard liquor, then the Licensing Magistrate may revoke an establishment's Spirits License to help curb over-consumption. A license may also have stipulations attached like the operating hours, days it can be open, the admission of children, etc... A license may also have certain other requirements - usually pushed by the temperance people - forcing the landlord to offer food, as well as "temperance beverages" or "non-intoxicants" such as tea and lemonade. 

Local (informal, British): I have yet to find any data on when this word was first used. Clearly, it is a reference to one's favorite and nearby drinking establishment.

Lounge and Cocktail Lounge: I have an old friend of mine who liked to joke about cocktail lounges as drinking establishment where all the patrons are reclined on couches. Sounds good to me, and his observations were not too far from the truth. One dictionary indicates that the word is of unknown origin, while others posit that it - at least the verb "to lounge" - came from an old Scots word which meant to "recline lazily," or perhaps from the French "allonger" - to "to lengthen or lie at full length," or the even older Old French "alongier" - to "lengthen." Dated to around 1500, the verb "to lounge" in English meant to act lazily, or to idle, or to be indifferent. So what about the noun? Well, it seems that back in the early 1800s, a "lounge" was a couch where a person could stretch out full length. Later, the room where these couches were placed was called a "lounge," as in a place suitable for lounging. There is one older reference that says a lounge - the room, that is - was a place where people gathered. It is not beyond imagination that at some point in time a "lounge" became a place where one gathered for drinks. Likewise, the phrase "cocktail lounge" is a natural development of the two words. Trouble is, I have yet to find any really good data about two things: What makes a drinking establishment a genuine cocktail lounge, and when did these places first start? Both questions are tough to answer, and are certainly open for debate. 

  As for the first question - suffice it to say that to set a concrete criterion for being a cocktail lounge is an exercise in futility. I think, however, that a cocktail lounge may be a bit more cushy, if you will, than your basic bar. You know, the kind of place with deep red crushed velvet on the walls. As for the second, Merrian-Webster states the first use of the phrase dates to 1934. In “The Cornellian,” the yearbook for Cornell University - Class of 1935 - there is an advertisement in the back for the Arlington Hotel, in Binghamton, New York. Noted in the ad were the Continental Cafe and the Cocktail Lounge. Then, there is a bar in Milwaukee called Bryant's, which opened as a beer hall in 1936. After a renovation in 1938, sprucing the place up a bit, and offering a long list of cocktails, Bryant's now called itself a cocktail lounge. Still more, there is a book called “Dining, Wining and Dancing in New York,” (also 1938) by Scudder Middleton, that mentions several cocktail lounges in the city. For example, Mr. Middleton notes that a place called Giovanni’s - 66 East 55th - has: “a quiet little bar and a cocktail lounge downstairs.”
Anybody know an earlier use of the term? I have done a bit of digging but around 1934-1935-ish seem to be about the earliest usage I can find.  Of course, there are many bars out there that serve cocktails, and that are very old, indeed. But, are they really cocktail lounges?

  Sidebar: Back when I was in college - back in the late 1970s - I used to hang out in a place called Cliff's Lounge, located in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska, and actually owned by a real cool cat named Cliff. On the street level there was a shop called Cliff's, which was, among other things, a gift shop and a smoke shop, back when smoking was legal (it was the only place in a five state region where one could buy Dunhills), and way before the trendy cigar revolution. Anyway, the lounge was in the basement, which you could get to from a nondescript outside stair well, or from a staircase way in the back of the street level shop. If you didn't know how to get there, you probably didn't know that Cliff's Lounge even existed. The lounge was a classic - very dark with lots of wonderfully comfortable crimson and black vinyl chairs, low volume jazzy music barely audible in the background, and a bartender in a black bow tie. I swear, if you squinted, you could just make out Frank Sinatra, or perhaps Dean Martin, sitting in the back of the room. This is where I had my first Martini, made by a true practitioner of the art of the cocktail.

Managed House (chiefly British): A pub, bar, tavern or other drinking establishment where the property or building is owned by a brewery. The brewery then hires a manager to run the establishment. This manager is an employee of the brewery. Of course, only the brewery's products tend to be served. Also known as a tenant house.

Mug House: From the book “ Tavern Anecdotes and Sayings; Including the Origin of Signs, and Reminiscences Connected With Taverns, Coffee-houses, Clubs, ets, etc…” by Mr. Charles Hindley (Tinsley Brothers, London, 1875), a Mug House is described as -
”An alehouse was so called in the eighteen century. Some hundred persons assembled in a large taproom to drink, sing and spout. One of the number was made chairman. Ale was served to the guests in their own mugs, and the place where the mug was to stand was chalked on the table.” So, if I read this correctly, a taproom could morph into a mug house, and vicey versey. Right? Drinking, singing and spouting - sound like fun to me.

On Sale - Off Sale: Basically "On Sale" means that the house sells drinks for consumption on the premises, while "Off Sale" means beverages that are purchased for carry out. An establishment may be only "On Sale," or both "On and Off Sale." A shop that only sells beverages to go would be considered "Off Sale." Back in the olden days, beer in particular was bought "Off Sale" by the bucket or large jug. The old way to by a six-pack to take home.

Ordinary (The): Back in Colonial Massachusetts it was actually illegal for a town not to have a tavern. So proclaimed the General Court of that state in 1656, which laid down a system of fines for those communities without one. Ofter referred to as the town’s ‘ordinary,’ these taverns were more of a multifaceted community hub where one could not only get a drink, but also a meal and a room for the night. So important was the town ordinary that some communities offered up free land, and more importantly an exemption from many taxes, both civil and church taxes, for anyone who would start one up.

Private House: Please scroll back up and see the entry for a “Bough House.”

Punch House: A punch house is sort of a subset of the basic public house, except that it serves a lot of rum. According to authors Hugh Barty-King and Anton Massel, in their book “Rum Yesterday and Today,” the word ‘punch’ comes from various origins, including the Greek word ‘penta,’ the Persian word ‘panj’ and the Hindustani word ‘panch,’ all of which are loosely translated as the number five. One version of the story has it that way back in the 1600s, British planters living in the West Indies had to doctor up the locally distilled rum, which was either too strong, or too nasty, or often a combination of both, into a drink that was palatable as well as refreshing. Since the resulting concoction has five basic components - rum, sugar, lime juice, spices and water - it was soon referred to as a ‘punch.’ Well, that’s one version of the story, anyway. Some say that the word ‘punch’ which was often served in a ‘punch house’ was actually coined in 17th Century India, then under the rule of Britain, where the expats also doctored up the local booze to make it more palatable. Of course, the five ingredients of a proper punch were quite variable, and very much open for discussion. A public house landlord who was particularly adept at mixing a good punch was a popular person, indeed.
So, as British planter came back to the Old Sod, whether it was from the West Indies or India, they brought back a love for this rum concoction, and soon there were pubs that specialized in this punch - a punch house. In some pubs there was a special room that held the vessel - often a fancy crock or barrel - in which the punch was mixed up - the ‘punch room.’ Punch was not served in glasses, mugs or tankards, but rather in a bowl. To illustrate - a man by the name of John Shaw opened his Punch House in Manchester in 1739. For a shilling one could get a larger ‘P Bowl,’ while for a sixpenny a customer could get a smaller serving ‘Q Bowl’ of Shaw’s punch. One must mind their Ps and Qs, after all.
Many punch houses of the day would hang a large sign over their door depicting a punch bowl, just to let passers-by know they could stop in to get a bowl of rum punch. In 1818, there were no fewer than five taverns in Manchester that carried the name The Punch Bowl. There are still a few punch house left around the world.

Public House (chiefly British): A building in which beer and other drinks may be bought and drunk.  Abbreviation: Pub. The keeper of a Public House is known as a Publican. The definition of a Landlord is a person who runs a rooming house or an inn, although if this inn happens to be associated with a pub, then the Publican can also be a Landlord. Simple.
  There is one reference that dates the use of the term "public house" back to the mid-1500s, when it meant, simply enough: Any house or building that is open to the public. Ok, that makes sense. By the mid-1600s, there was the additional descriptor of being licensed to sell ale, wine and spirits. Another early aspect of the phrase also implied that the establishment, whether an inn, tavern, etc... was required by law to serve the general public - therefore it is a "public house." Vice, that is, a "private house." All of this is, of course, subject of much debate.

  And, of course, the big question - Can there be a legitimate public house anywhere other than the British Isles?
  So, the Latin word for "people" is "populus," the adjective form of which is "publicus," which quite clearly is where the English word "Public" comes from.
  For the student of public house history there is an extensive library of references to the various and ever changing British laws and regulations as to running a public house. Suffice it to say, these laws seem to be in a constant state of flux.
  By the way, the phase "pub crawl" is dated back to 1910, according to certain references.
  Here is a quote from Red Dwarf: "'Pub'? Ah yes, A meeting place where humans attempt to achieve advanced states of mental incompetence, by the repeated consumption of fermented vegetable drinks."

Restaurant: Here's another Latin-based word, but with a French twist. As the story goes, back in the 1600s a soup vender in Paris used a Latin phase to advertise his product, saying that if you ate his soup you would be "restored" - in Latin "restaurabo." The French noun "to restore" is "restaurer," and it doesn't take a leap of the imagination to see that the word "restaurant" morphed from this, meaning "restoring." So you go into a restaurant, have something to eat and come out restored.
  Another version of this same story has the man - by the way he was named Boulanger, which in French means "baker" - selling his soups which he called "restaurants" or "bouillons restaurants." A further version of this story has Monsieur Boulanger selling his soups from a street cart, while another version records he had an actual shop, somewhere near the Louvre. So, it soon evolved that people would go to his shop for a restaurant, which evolved into the shop itself becoming a restaurant. Simple!

Road House: This term has any number of variations, depending on the country, and sometimes the era in question. Common to all is the fact that these establishments are traditionally located on a highway, main road, or well-travelled route of some sort. Historically, all offered food for the traveler, while some sold alcoholic beverages, and still others provided overnight accommodations. In the U. K. these rest stops were sometimes called coaching inns or coaching houses, clearly because that is where the horse-drawn coaches would stop for a fresh team of horses, for a quick meal or for an overnight rest. Up in Canada, at one time, these places were called "stopping houses." Back in the era before high-speed travel, road houses and coaching inns were quite common along key arteries between cities. In the United States and Canada the classic concept of a road house as a stop for the weary traveler has morphed into the truck stop, and the definition of "road house," has itself morphed into a sort of seedy dive bar somewhere outside of town. In the U. K., many of the historic old coaching inns are still in existence, however the age-old reason for their being - a travelers rest stop - has also changed with time.

Rum-hole: See Groggery.

Saloon (historical, North American): The notes within the preceding parentheses would indicate the current use of the word "saloon" today, or at least what most people think of when the word is used. A saloon being an Old West drinking establishment, complete with the swinging door at the entrance. Oh, and lots of cowboys slugging down rot gut whiskey by the shot.
  Ok, here's a bit of history - The word saloon is generally believed to be an Anglicized version of the French word "salon," which was simply a large room or hall. The Brits added the extra "o" and applied the word to cars - the saloon car, to railroad cars - again, the saloon car, and to big cabins aboard passenger ships. When the word was applied to a drinking establishment is not quite certain, some say around the middle of the 1800s.
I did find one old book called “The Pennsylvania Dutch - a Dialect of South German,” by S.S. Haldemann, published in 1872, that noted this group of immigrants to the U.S. often ran what were called Lagerbier Salons, or Lagerbier Saloons. Interestingly, these German expats were using the French word salon.
  While today the word "saloon" will forever by associated with the Western movie, there is still a use in Great Britain today. Although not seen as much anymore, some larger Public Houses were divided in to a "bar" and a "saloon." The bar was a more stand up, noisier, more basic drinking area, while the saloon was a quieter, more refined sit-down area, which is more akin to the word "salon." Some pubs also had a Private Bar, for especially well heeled and connected guests.

Tap Room: Dating back to around 1807 - the earliest date reference I could find - a tap room, or alternatively taproom, was simply a room located in a hotel or inn that served alcohol. That this room was equipped with taps - actually more likely large casks that have been tapped - is also a reasonable assumption. This is another one of those strange terms that have various applications. So, while a room located in a hotel can be a tap room, it is also possible that a pub or tavern can also have a tap room. Go figure

Tavern: Chiefly old European use or in North America. An inn, wine shop or a public house. Also, an establishment for the sale of beer and other drinks to be consumed on site. As opposed to an alehouse, which only serves ale. Food may also be served.  Latin origin - Taberna (Latin), meaning "hut" or "shop" - Taverne (old French) - Tavern (middle English). Some references indicate that the word "tavern" was used in England at least as far back as the 1400s, and meant simply a house where wine was sold. Other archaic variants of the word, especially throughout the British Isles mean simply a wooden shed
  Here is an interesting clip from a 2002 article by Georgina Gustin that appeared in the New York Times:  "In Connecticut, there is a legal distinction between a bar and a tavern. Bars can serve whatever you're having, including hard liquor. Taverns, once known as public houses back when residents were still British subjects are places that can serve only beer, wine, cider, and food if they choose. The tavern license is one that few establishments want because the limits keep sales and profits down. As a result, in a state where the tavern was once a neighborhood fixture, it is now an endangered species. By some counts, there are only about 10 left."
  She goes on to say, " They were not -- and are not -- places for cocktails or the subtleties of single malt scotch. They are places that have accumulated the patina of smoke, spilled beer and the histories of the people who drank there."

  So, the other day I was watching an episode of Danger Man (known as Secret Agent in the U.S.), called "Don't Nail Him Yet." John Drake (Patrick McGoohan) was on the trail of the bad guy, a dude named Rawson, who was stealing Royal Navy secrets. Well, the scoundrel Rawson liked to drink at a place called the Star Tavern, which appeared in a couple of scenes. When they filmed the Danger Man series, at least in the beginning, the producers often used actual street scenes from in and around London. The Star Tavern actually exists, located at 6 Belgrave Mews West, and is open for business today.  
  Anyway, the big question is this: Is the Star Tavern also a Public House? Can it be considered a Tavern and a Pub, at the same time? Since today the Star Tavern is part of the Fuller's family, can it also be considered a tied house? All perplexing questions, indeed. I think I will have a beer, and think on it for a while. 
  One more bit of British TV Trivia: In this episode of Danger Man, in the Star Tavern, Drake has a confrontation with a group of unruly youths. One of the girls is Wendy Richard, who is best known, at least to us Americans, as Miss Shirley Brahms, on the 1970/80s-vintage television comedy show "Are You Being Served." Are you free?

Tea Room: So, one would think that a Tea Room would not be included on this list - maybe so. However, many of the larger public houses also had a room - a Tea Room - where non-alcoholic beverages - like tea - were served.

Tenant House: See Managed House.

Tied House: Mostly in the United Kingdom, but also to a lesser extent in the United States and in Canada. A drinking establishment, public house, bar, etc... that has a contractual arrangement to buy its beer from one particular brewery. A tied house is usually owned by an individual. In some cases this individual may have been loaned funds to buy his establishment by a brewery, and thus must serve only that brewery's products as part of the loan agreement. Most of the time other brands may not be sold.
  In the U.S and Canada the term ‘Tied House’ may not be that common, but there are many bars that have a contract with a local brewery or, more often a distributor, but this fact tends not to be all that apparent to the patrons. More often, a local area will only have a few government approved alcohol distributors, and everyone, whether a bar or a shop, must buy from them. It is against the law for a shop or bar to buy from anyone else, i.e. bringing in alcohol from outside the local area. This, of course, tends to limit the variety of products available to the individual consumer.

Tippling House: Apparently from old England, although rather vague in definition. Similar to an Ale House, but perhaps not quite as above board. Lord Askwith, in his 1928 book "British Taverns - Their History and Laws" noted:
  "In the 5th year of Edward VI [1537 - 1553] an Act, important in character, because in it the legislature recognised the 'Hurts and Troubles' caused by 'disorders as are had and used in common ale houses and other houses called tippling houses,' was passed."
 Please refer to "Ale House" above.

Town Pump or Village Pump: Of unknown origin and vintage, used in England, Ireland and the United States. Back in the olden days, and even today in lesser developed parts of the world, a town or village or a neighborhood in a larger city often had only one communal source of water - the town pump. As it was a place that most villagers had to visit as part of their daily routine, it became a social center, where one would catch up on the village news and gossip. It is an easy leap to see this phrase used to denote as a place where people congregate, drink and shoot the breeze.
   There are a couple other meanings for the phrase "town pump," one that refers to a person who is a big gossip and another that alludes to a rather naughty, promiscuous woman, if you know what I mean.

Victualling House: Here’s another one of those ancient words that one never really hears today. The noun “vitual” mean essentially food or provisions, while the verb “victualling” mean the act of providing this food and these provisions. One of the earliest references I have found dates back to 1449, although some analysis dates it to pre-1300 in English usage, and, of course, well before that if one considers the Latin variations. Anyway, in 1449, during the reign of King Henry VI, a royal warrant dictated that “no purveyors of victuals or grain” should take their products to the seashore, except when these products are “reserved for the victualling of Calais and the marches there, and Dover Castle, and the officers and ministers there.” I guess this was a sort of export prohibition.
In the old days of sailing ships, and indeed up to more resent times, there was a thing called a “vitualling pier,” which was a pier or a dock where a ship would be berthed for the purpose of lading food stores and like provisions for a voyage ahead.
When it comes to the term “victualling house,” this also is one of those olden terms that have changed definition over the years. In the most basic sense, it means a house and/or business that provides food and provisions to the general public, which at various times included beer and ale. It is not all that different than your basic public house or inn.

Watering Hole: For our discussion, the term "watering hole" simply means a place where people gather to drink. One reference dates a variation of the term back to at least the mid-1800s, but this was for a more literal meaning. Like a town or village pump, a watering hole, particularly in an arid area with sparse water sources, was a gathering place. The social drinking aspect of the term dates back to at least 1865, although another reference dates it much further back, to around 1770. Neither reference, however, notes the geographical origin of the term.

Wine Bar: There is one reference that states the first usage of the term "wine bar" dates back to 1935. Essentially self-explanatory, a wine bar is an establishment that chiefly serves wine, from a usually well stocked cellar, and oftentimes food, as well. Wine is often sold for take away, also. A wine bar is somewhat synonymous with a bodega, the latter being of Mexican-Spanish origin - the word dates back to the 1840s - meaning a wine shop or cellar. The word "bodega" comes from the Latin word "apotheca" which means depot or store. In today's day and age, both a wine bar and a bodega can assume many different variations.

So, there you go - an imprecise and highly unscientific examination of a number of words near and dear to our hearts. Questions, comments and snide remarks to the editor. Cheers, Dave!