Boarders

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who pays for meals and lodging at a residence
2. An individual who rents a room in someone else's home and receives both food and accommodations
3. Someone who occupies a rented room in a dwelling while being provided with meals

Etymology: The noun form referring to people who live in a boarding house or similar accommodation as paying guests has its roots in the verb "to board," which originally meant to provide someone with regular meals and lodging. This verb itself emerged in English around the late Middle Ages, deriving from the Old French "bordier," meaning a table or a plank, which in turn traces back to the Germanic root related to "board" as a flat piece of wood. The shift from the physical object—a board or plank used as a table—to the concept of providing meals and lodging likely reflects the central role of the dining table in communal living arrangements. By the 16th century, "to board" had taken on the broader sense of supplying room and board, that is, lodging and meals, and from this came the noun form describing those who receive such provisions. By the 17th century, the word had evolved to describe not only the act of providing meals and lodging but also those who partake in such arrangements. Thus, "boarders" came into use to denote individuals who paid for room and meals at a boarding house or with a host family. This usage has persisted into modern English, often referring to students or travelers who live temporarily away from home while paying for accommodation and food. The term also found a place in schools and institutions where students lived on campus, emphasizing the connection between physical boarding and the social role of the boarder as a resident guest. The plural form simply marks the group of such individuals, preserving the link between the act of boarding and those who benefit from it.

Synonyms: lodgers, tenants, residents, guests, inhabitants

Antonyms: landlords, owners