Parlour

– Etymology:
– Originated in early 13th century
– Derived from Old French word “parler”
– Entered English language in the 16th century

– History:
– First used in medieval Christian Europe
– Designated rooms in monasteries for clergy to converse
– Adapted into domestic architecture for receiving guests
– Sign of social status in 18th and 19th centuries
– Declined in 20th century due to societal changes

– Commercial Enterprises:
– Term “parlour” used in various businesses
– Examples include funeral parlour, beauty parlour, and betting parlour
– Also used for ice cream parlors, pizza parlors, and tattoo parlors
– Dialect-specific usage varies by region

– See Also:
– Related terms: Family room, Massage parlour, Recreation room

– References:
– Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 1993
– Book by Bill Bryson on private life history
– Source on Parlour Palm houseplant
– Reference to wine parlour at St Francisville
– Book on random acts of kindness

Parlour (Wikipedia)

For other uses, see Parlour (disambiguation).

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A parlour (or parlor) is a reception room or public space. In medieval Christian Europe, the "outer parlour" was the room where the monks or nuns conducted business with those outside the monastery and the "inner parlour" was used for necessary conversation between resident members. In the English-speaking world of the 18th and 19th century, having a parlour room was evidence of social status.