rhizoverbBeta
DictionarytavernDrinking establishment
noun

tavern

TAV-ern/ˈtævərn/

An establishment serving alcoholic drinks and often food.

The tavern serves drinks to adults seated at a small table.

Two adults sit at a small tavern table with plain beer mugs while a bartender serves behind a simple counter, clear drinking establishment, no signs or branded bottles.
Etymology
tavernLatinhut; shop; inn

Latin taberna originally meant a hut or shed and also came to mean a shop or inn. The drinking-place sense continues that shift from a simple building to an establishment serving customers.

In context

Enhanced Public Domain36:51
every Saturday I went to a Tavern keeper called bares who dwelt with his wine jars under the port of capena and from him I bought the wine
1900s Satire Audiobook: Anatole France - Penguin Island

More examples

  • We stopped at the tavern for supper.
  • Several taverns stood along the old road.
  • The tavern closed before midnight.

Forms

tavern · taverns

Similar words

bar
May focus more narrowly on drinks rather than food or lodging.
pub
Pub suggests a particular community drinking-house tradition.