a room in a house used for receiving guests or relaxation (British spelling), or a shop providing a particular service like an ice cream parlour.
From Old French 'parler' meaning 'to speak,' based on Latin 'parabola.' Originally a room in a convent where visitors could speak with the residents.
Victorian parlours were the ultimate status symbol—the more ornate and the less functional, the wealthier you were, since it meant you could afford a room that did nothing but impress visitors.
Certain 'parlour' types (nail, massage, brothel) are coded feminine/service-oriented and have historically been spaces of labor exploitation and gender-based vulnerability.
Specify the parlour type and context; avoid using 'parlour' euphemistically to obscure labor conditions or gendered work.
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