sa·loon / səˈloōn/ • n. a public room or building used for a specified purpose: a billiard saloon. ∎  hist. or humorous a place where alcoholic drinks may be bought and drunk. ∎  a large public room for use as a lounge on a ship.

saloon large apartment for assemblies, etc. XVIII; large cabin or railway carriage; (U.S.) drinking bar XIX. — F. salon — It. salone, augm. of sala — Rom. *sala hall — Gmc. *salaz, *saliz, repr. by OE. sæl, OHG. sal (G. saal) and OE. sele, OS. seli, OHG. sali, seli, ON. salr; see -OON.