Definition

Noun: A small roadside establishment, typically found in the southeastern United States, offering food, drink, and dancing to music played on a jukebox.

Usage

A "juke house" refers specifically to a type of informal, often rural, venue for socializing, eating, and dancing. It is a cultural institution associated with a particular region and era. - After the long drive, they stopped at a juke house for some barbecue and to hear some blues on the jukebox. - The old juke house on the highway was a popular spot for locals on Saturday nights.

Advanced Usage

• The term evokes a specific mid-20th century American cultural and musical setting, particularly linked to the development of blues and early rock and roll.
• It implies a casual, sometimes rustic, atmosphere distinct from more formal clubs or restaurants.

Variants and Related Words

• Juke joint (n): A very similar, often synonymous term for the same type of establishment. "Juke joint" is perhaps the more commonly used phrase.
• Jukebox (n): The coin-operated music-playing machine that provides the entertainment in such a place. This word is the origin of "juke" in "juke house."

Synonyms

• Roadhouse
• Honky-tonk (though this can have a slightly different, often country-music, connotation)
• Tavern
• Dive bar (emphasizes the informal, unpretentious nature, but not necessarily the roadside or jukebox aspect)

Notes on Meaning

• The term is historically and regionally specific. It is not a general term for any bar or restaurant with a jukebox.
• The word "juke" is believed to derive from the Gullah word "juke" or "joog," meaning disorderly or wicked, reflecting the establishments' reputations for lively, sometimes raucous, entertainment.

Noun

1. a small roadside establishment in the southeastern United States where you can eat and drink and dance to music provided by a jukebox