locker roomn.
/ˈlɒkə ruːm/, U.S. /ˈlɑkər ˌrum/ 1. Nautical. Originally: room on a vessel for keeping a chest, trunk, etc. (see locker n.1 4b); (now usually) storage space on a boat for clothes, supplies, equipment, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > room, locker, or quarters > [noun] > storage room or compartment
lazaretto1711
locker room1857
lazaret1892
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > room, locker, or quarters > [noun] > locker
locker1588
locker room1857
1857 N.-Y. Daily Times 5 Jan. 3/2 As the little craft rolled again..I rushed for my six feet of locker-room.
1870 Field Q. May 105/1 The latter [cabin] contained four good berths, sofas, plenty of locker room.
1908 Rudder May 428/2 Crew's quarters extra large and airy, with lots of locker room.
1990 MotorBoating Feb. 36/2 There's a queensize double berth..and a good deal of locker room.
2. Chiefly U.S. A room containing lockers, esp. a sports changing room.
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the mind > possession > supply > storage > [noun] > place where anything is or may be stored > store-room > specific
store-loft1612
plate room1767
napery1819
box room1820
locker room1870
store-shed1879
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > room by type of use > [noun] > cloakroom
cloakroom1823
shawl-room1838
locker room1870
check-room1900
cloaks1902
checking-room1910
1870 Med. Times & Gaz. 8 Oct. 415/1 The alterations comprise a new and enlarged library and reading-room, locker-rooms, lavatories, etc.
1895 Cal. Univ. Nebraska 1895–6 252 The locker room for young men is fitted with ninety-six lockers.
1906 Westm. Gaz. 11 July 8/1 Two extra payments are a penny for a bath, including towel and soap, and 6d. deposit for the use of a large locker in the locker room.
1931 Maclean's Aug. 28/4 Mere males are lucky to find sanctuary in locker room, grill and bar.
1934 J. O'Hara Appointment in Samarra (1935) iv. 108 Julian wanted to go to the bathroom after the dinner party stood up, and on his way to the men's locker room he had to pass Mrs. Gorman's table.
2003 N.Y. Times 14 Dec. viii. 1/5 In Jesse Palmer's corner of the Giants' locker room, life is good.
Compounds
attributive. Originally and chiefly U.S. Designating language, attitudes, or behaviour associated with or considered typical of a (men's) locker room, esp. in being vulgar or coarse.
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1942 El Paso (Texas) Herald-Post 12 Feb. 4/3 He is..the most poisonous and vulgar bore on earth, with a penchant for..stupidly dirty and aged locker-room jokes.
1945 Billboard 13 Oct. 34/2 Often, gags submerged to locker-room standards, but sold so well that they were easily forgiven.
1968 N.Y. Times Mag. 7 Jan. 39/1 He can..negotiate with great skill, mixing charm and flattery and a bit of locker-room vulgarity.
1979 R. M. Kanter & B. M. Stein Life in Organizations i. viii. 142 Women may find sexual innuendoes or displays of locker room humor offensive when they think that it is being put on for their benefit.
1997 Advocate 9 Dec. 28/3 Considering the locker-room mentality that prevails in male rock bands, it's understandable why many gay musicians stay in the closet.
2009 Mich. Law Rev. 108 375 But no matter how serious the harm that cyber gender harassment inflicts, the public tends to trivialize it. Commentators dismiss it as harmless locker-room talk.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1857