Public house

public house
    n 1: tavern consisting of a building with a bar and public
         rooms; often provides light meals [syn: {public house},
         {pub}, {saloon}, {pothouse}, {gin mill}, {taphouse}]
    

Public \Pub"lic\, a. [L. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people:
   cf. F. public. See {People}.]
   1. Of or pertaining to the people; belonging to the people;
      relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community;
      -- opposed to {private}; as, the public treasury.
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            To the public good
            Private respects must yield.          --Milton.
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            He [Alexander Hamilton] touched the dead corpse of
            the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet. --D.
                                                  Webster.
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   2. Open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common;
      notorious; as, public report; public scandal.
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            Joseph, . . . not willing to make her a public
            example, was minded to put her away privily. --Matt.
                                                  i. 19.
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   3. Open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public
      house. "The public street." --Shak.
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   {public act} or {public statute} (Law), an act or statute
      affecting matters of public concern. Of such statutes the
      courts take judicial notice.

   {Public credit}. See under {Credit}.

   {Public funds}. See {Fund}, 3.

   {Public house}, an inn, or house of entertainment.

   {Public law}.
      (a) See {International law}, under {International}.
      (b) A public act or statute.

   {Public nuisance}. (Law) See under {Nuisance}.

   {Public orator}. (Eng. Universities) See {Orator}, 3.

   {Public stores}, military and naval stores, equipments, etc.
      

   {Public works}, all fixed works built by civil engineers for
      public use, as railways, docks, canals, etc.; but
      strictly, military and civil engineering works constructed
      at the public cost.
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52 Moby Thesaurus words for "public house":
      alehouse, bar, barrel house, barroom, beer garden, beer parlor,
      bistro, blind tiger, boardinghouse, cabaret, cafe, cocktail lounge,
      dive, dorm, dormitory, doss house, dramshop, drinkery,
      drinking saloon, fleabag, flophouse, gin mill, groggery, grogshop,
      guest house, honky-tonk, hospice, hostel, hostelry, hotel, inn,
      local, lodge, lodging house, nightclub, ordinary, pension, posada,
      pothouse, pub, public, rathskeller, roadhouse, rooming house,
      rummery, rumshop, saloon, saloon bar, speakeasy, taproom, tavern,
      wine shop