speakeasy
An illegal saloon or tavern, especially one operated during the American Prohibition…An illegal saloon or tavern, especially one operated during the American Prohibition period in the 1920s.
» This speakeasy is controlled by the mob.
Meaning
2 senses(historical)An illegal saloon or tavern, especially one operated during the American Prohibition period in the 1920s.
(during prohibition) an illegal barroom
An illegal saloon or tavern, especially one operated during the American Prohibition period in the 1920s.
(broadly, historical)In modern times, a legal bar in the style of a speakeasy, i.e. one that is hidden away and has a quiet atmosphere.
Examples
4 sentencesThis speakeasy is controlled by the mob.
Saloons known as speakeasies cropped up by the hundreds in large cities.
The police raided the speakeasy.
Many of the bootleggers who owned speakeasies and bought and sold whiskey were deeply involved in organized crime.
Translations
1 languagesOrigin
Deverbal from speak easy (= speak quietly [interj.]); for the history, see Wikipedia at spDeverbal from speak easy (= speak quietly [interj.]); for the history, see Wikipedia at speakeasy § Etymology.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: speakeasies / speakeasys| Singular | speakeasy |
|---|---|
| Plural | speakeasies / speakeasys |
regular