A small nightclub or cabaret, especially one that is fashionable or offers entertainment like music and dancing.
From French 'boîte' (literally 'box'), borrowed into English in the early 20th century during the Jazz Age when Parisian nightlife fascinated English speakers. The word reflects how nightclubs were seen as enclosed entertainment spaces.
The French 'boîte' literally means 'box,' but when English speakers adopted it for nightclubs, they were capturing the intimate, exclusive feeling of these hidden entertainment venues—a perfect example of how borrowed words bring cultural attitudes with them!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.