Chummery

/ˈtʃʌm.ə.ri/ noun

Definition

A shared house or apartment where multiple friends or colleagues live together as roommates.

Etymology

From 'chummer' (roommate) plus the suffix '-y' (creating a noun for a place). Entered English through colonial India where British officers shared 'chummeries' to save money on housing.

Kelly Says

Colonial British officials in India invented the word 'chummery' because they were broke and bored—shared housing with your buddies was the original co-living startup that became part of English culture.

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