penny arcade
Definition
Noun: An indoor area or venue containing coin-operated amusement machines, typically requiring a small coin (historically a penny) for activation. These devices include early mechanical games, fortune tellers, strength testers, and peep shows.
Usage
A "penny arcade" refers to the physical location housing the machines. It is used as a countable noun.
Examples
- Noun:
- We spent the afternoon at the old-fashioned penny arcade on the boardwalk.
- The museum has a replica of a 1920s penny arcade with working vintage games.
Advanced Usage
- The term evokes nostalgia and is often associated with early 20th-century entertainment before the rise of video arcades.
- While historically costing a penny, the concept persists in modern arcades, though the price has increased.
Variants and Related Words
- Arcade (n): A covered passageway, often with shops, or a modern venue with video games and similar amusements. (A broader term; a modern "arcade" is the successor to the "penny arcade".)
- Coin-operated machine (n): The general term for any device activated by inserting a coin.
Synonyms
- Amusement arcade (This is a more modern and general synonym, common in British English.)
- Game arcade (Emphasizes games over other types of coin-operated devices.)
Related Phrases
- Penny arcade game (n): A specific amusement device found within a penny arcade.
- His favorite penny arcade game was the mechanical horse race.
Noun
-
an arcade with coin-operated devices for entertainment
