Mid 18th century; earliest use found in Keyssler's Travels. From Italian camerata group of people living together harmoniously or pursuing a common artistic or intellectual interest, late 16th-cent. Florentine group of musicians, composers, and intellectuals under the patronage of Count Giovanni de'Bardi, group of room-mates, small group of musicians or singers who perform together (1936 or earlier; usually with capital initial; frequently in the names of such groups, e.g. Camerata Milanese del Madrigale, Camerata di Cremona) from camera room, chamber + -ata, probably after Spanish camarada comrade in its collective sense ‘group of room-mates’.