publican
4
7.8
- noun
- /ˈpʌblɪkən/
- UK
:
tabernero
- She was christened at St. Leonard's Church, and her grandfather was a Shoreditch publican of Huguenot descent.
Nonetheless, when the next Irish Bank strike came six years later, memories of bouncing checks were still in many publicans minds.
- Nonetheless, when the next Irish Bank strike came six years later, memories of bouncing checks were still in many publicans minds.
Examples
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Somewhere once, Professor Ormston read that the Irish make good publicans, a touch of the blarney not out of place.
Fiction book (1998) -
In latter years, to pre-empt his suspicious visits to my home, I would arrange with a local publican, a shrewd man who knew how to close his mouth for a shilling and keep it closed, to have access to his silent hostelry in the hours of darkness.
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Your father is the publican?
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I remember his father, Tomas, because he is the only publican ever to have refused me a drink.
Fiction book (1997) -
- I'm George Wilde, the publican.
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With his square spectacles and tight helmet of gray hair, he radiated the wisdom and understanding of an upright publican familiar with all the world's enigmas.
Fiction book (1992) -
I was just sinking thankfully back into unconsciousness when the door opened again, this time to reveal a middle-aged woman I took to be the publican's wife, carrying a ewer and basin.
Fiction book (1991) -
The publican served us a delicious pint of ale and told us about the history of the pub.
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After a long day, we enjoyed relaxing at the local pub, where the friendly publican welcomed all customers.
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Every Friday night, the publican hosts a trivia competition that draws a large crowd to the pub.
Synonyms
1
5.5
A person who owns or runs a small bar serving food and drink
1
6.9
A person who owns or runs a bar
A person who owns or runs an inn
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Publican comes from the old Latin publicus, meaning 'public', and was later used for the owner or manager of a 'public house', a place open to everyone. So today a publican is the person who runs the pub, which explains why the word links to 'public' places where people meet.