A building containing a bar licensed to sell alcoholic drinks, and usually offering accommodation; an inn.
"The weary travelers pulled their horses up at the old tavern, where they could buy a drink before spending the night in its cozy rooms."
In plain English: A tavern is an old-fashioned place where people go to drink alcohol and eat food.
"After work, he met his friends at their favorite tavern to share a few drinks and catch up on news."
Usage: Use "tavern" instead of the more generic "bar" when emphasizing traditional pub culture or historical settings, though modern usage often applies it interchangeably with any establishment serving alcohol. Avoid using it for upscale cocktail lounges where the primary focus is on mixology rather than hearty food and lodging.
The word entered English via the Old French "taverne," which originally meant a wine shop before evolving to refer to an inn in Latin as taberna. This journey through French and Latin transformed the term from a specific place for selling alcohol into the general concept of a drinking establishment known today.