Taverners

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of individuals who operate or manage a place where alcoholic beverages are served and patrons gather for amusement and food
2. Those who run establishments that serve drinks and provide entertainment, often frequented for social gatherings and relaxation
3. People responsible for the administration of drinking venues, where customers can enjoy beverages and sometimes meals in a communal setting

Etymology: "Taverners" is the plural of "taverner," a person who keeps a tavern. The singular came into English from Old French "tavernier," which in turn came from Latin "taberna," a word for a hut, booth or shop, and the root of "tavern" itself. So the Latin word originally named a humble wooden stall rather than a drinking house, and the same root gives English "tavern" and the trade name for those who ran them. Because the form was borrowed from French, the agent suffix "-ier" became "-er" in English, a common pattern for workers and keepers in Middle English. The plural simply adds "-s" to the singular, so "taverners" names a group of such keepers at once.