Definition

Noun: A tavern or public house where ale (a type of beer) is the primary beverage sold and served.

Usage

An "alehouse" is a specific type of drinking establishment. It is a historical or traditional term for a place that serves ale, often implying a simple, communal setting. In modern usage, the term can sound archaic and is often used to evoke a historical or rustic atmosphere.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The weary travelers stopped at the old alehouse for a drink and a meal.
  • In the 18th century, the village alehouse was the center of social life.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often found in historical fiction or descriptions of past eras.
• It can be used metaphorically to suggest a place of informal gathering or hearty, simple fare.

Variants and Related Words

• Tavern (n): A more general term for a place that sells alcoholic drinks and sometimes food.
• Public house (pub) (n): A common British term for a drinking establishment, often seen as the modern equivalent.
• Inn (n): An establishment that provides lodging, food, and drink, often with a more formal connotation than an alehouse.

Synonyms

• Beerhouse
• Taproom
• Saloon (primarily US historical context)

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Alehouse politics: Informal, often gossipy, discussions about public affairs that take place in a tavern setting.
  • His views were shaped more by alehouse politics than by reading the newspaper.

Noun

1. a tavern where ale is sold