Minibars

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Small, stocked cabinets or compartments found in hotel rooms offering a variety of snacks and drinks for guests
2. Compact units typically filled with a selection of beverages and snacks available for personal consumption in accommodations
3. Storage spaces within lodging establishments containing refreshments and treats, often charged to the guest’s room upon use

Etymology: "Minibar" is a blend of "mini-" and "bar," with "bar" carrying its old sense of a barrier or counter before it came to mean a place for drinks. The "bar" in the word traces back through Old French "barre" to Vulgar Latin "barra," meaning a bar or barrier, and reached Middle English as "barre." Over centuries the sense shifted from a physical rod or obstacle to a counter where drinks were served, since a barrier separated the server from the customer. The "mini-" part is a much more recent addition, drawn from the Latin "minius" and its derivatives, which passed through Italian "miniatura" and English "miniature" before being shortened into the prefix that now marks small versions of things. The compound was formed in English by simply attaching this prefix to "bar," producing a name for a small, well-stocked cabinet in a hotel room. The plural "minibars" is simply the regular plural of "minibar," so it refers to more than one of these cabinets.