Tavern

A place of entertainment; a house kept up for the accommodation of strangers. Webster. Originally, a house for the retailing of liquors to be drunk on the spot. Webster. In almost all the states, the word has come to mean the same as "inn," with no particular reference to the sale of liquors. See 2 Kent, Comm. (9th Ed.) 597*, note (a); 5 N. H. 258. Tavern, hotel, inn and public house are in this country used synonymously; and while they entertain the traveling public, and keep guests, and receive compensation therefor, they do not lose their character, though they may not have the privilege of selling liquors. The distinction, as respects inn and tavern keepers, observed in England under the common law, does not exist with us, and different names are applied to them, though "hotel" and "house" are usually and commonly used to denote a higher order of public houses than the ordinary tavern or inn. The word "tavern" includes all hotels and houses that entertain and accommodate the public for compensation. 46 Mo. 593, Ann. Cas. 1914B 874, note.

A place of entertainment; a house kept up for the accommodation of strangers. Webster. Originally, a house for the retailing of liquors to be drunk on the spot Webster. A house licensed to sell liquors in small quantities. In re Schneider, 11 Ore. 288, 8 Pac. 289. In almost all the states the word has come to mean the same as inn, with no particular reference to the sale of liquors. See 2 Kent 597*, note a; Foster v. State, 84 Ala. 451, 4 South. 833. Tavern has been held to include •‘hotel”; St Louis v. Siegrist, 46 Mo. 593; contra, Bonner v. Welhorn, 7 Ga. 296. For the liability of tavern-keepers, see Story, Bailm. § 7. See Wandell, Inns; Beale, Innkeepers; Innkeeper.

A house licensed to sell liquors in small quantities, to be drunk on the spot; a houser for the entertainment of travelers, as well as for the sale of liquors, licensed for that purpose; an inn.

At common law, a tavernkeeper is one who makes it his business to entertain travelers or passengers and provide lodging axid necessaries for them, their horses and attendants. When licensed they usually had the privilege of selling liquors, but this depended wholly upon the provision of law.l " Tavern," '• hotel," and " public house "are synonymous in this country; and while they entertain the traveling public, and receive compensation therefor, they do not lose their character, though they may not have the privilege of selling liquors. The distinction, as respects inn-keepers and tavern-keepers, observed in England, under the common law, does not exist with us, and different names are applied to them, though "hotel " and " house " are commonly used to denote-a higher order of public houses than the ordinary tavern or inn. As employed in a statute, the word may refer to the whole class, comprehending all houses that entertain the public for compensation.' See further Inn.

Originally, a wine-shop; a house where liquor is sold in small quantities, to be drank there. It gi'adually became, when lodgings and meals came to be furnished at such places, nearly synonymous with inn; and, under legislation and usage relative to sale of intoxicating liquor, it has come to be used of a house of entertainment for travellers, irrespective of whether liquors are retailed or not. The phrase temperance tavern is not now deemed a contradiction in terms. " Tavern " and " house of entertainment " are synonymous expressions, and mean nothing different from an inn, as understood at common law. A statute requiring every keeper of a tavern or house of entertainment to take out a license does not extend beyond innkeepers. " Hotel " no more indicates the business of tavern-keeping than the words mansion or palace; it is descriptive of the house. Hotel has no definite legal meaning; it is derived from the Frencli^ and means in France the dwelling of persons of rank. Bonner v. Welborn, 7 Ga. 296, 308. The word tavern, in a charter provision authorizing municipal authorities to " license and regulate taverns," includes hotels. " Tavern," " hotel," and " public house " are, in this country, used synonymously; and, wliile they entertain the travelling public, and keep guests, and receive compensation therefor, tliey do not lose their character, though they may not have the Iirivilege of selling liquors. St. Louis i>. Siegrist, 46 Mo. 593. The mere fact of carrying on the business of selling spirituous liquors by small measure in one's building does not consti- Eafferty v. New Brunswick Fire Ins. Co., 18 N. J. L. 480. Tavern-keeper. Is clearly a housekeeper, in contemplation of Maryland statutes. State V. Pearson, 2 Md. 310. A person who makes it his business to keep a house of entertainment for travellers is a tavern-keeper, though he does not keep liquor. Curtis v. State, 6 Ohio, 324.

a place of entertainment, a house kept up for the accommodation of strangers. These are regulated by various local laws. For the liabilities of tavern keepers, vide Story on Bailm. art. 7; 2 Kent, Ab. 3, F; Bac. Ab. Inn, &c.; and. the articles Inn; Inn-keeper.