Sa*loon" (s&adot;*l&oomac;n"), n. [F. salon (cf. It. salone),
fr. F. salle a large room, a
hall, of German or Dutch origin; cf. OHG. sal house, hall, G. saal; akin to AS.
sæl, sele, D. zaal,
Icel. salr, Goth. saljan to dwell, and
probably to L. solum ground. Cf. Sole of the
foot, Soil ground, earth.]
1. A spacious and elegant apartment for the reception of company or for works of art; a hall of reception, esp. a hall for public entertainments or
amusements; a large room or parlor; as, the saloon of a steamboat.
The gilden saloons in which the
first magnates of the realm . . . gave banquets and
balls.
Macaulay. 2. Popularly, a public room for specific uses; esp., a barroom or
grogshop; as, a drinking saloon; an eating saloon; a dancing saloon.
We hear of no hells, or low
music halls, or low dancing saloons [at Athens.]
J. P. Mahaffy.
Hear it pronounced