drawing room

Shortening of withdrawing room.

drawing room (plural drawing rooms)

1. (Britain) A multifunctional room that can be used for any purpose in a palace or castle.
2. (Britain) Any room where visitors may be entertained; now, the living room.
   • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 10, in The Mirror and the Lamp:

     It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room.

3. A room where engineers draw up plans and patterns.
4. (Britain) A levée where ladies are presented at court or to society.
   • 1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, Chapter 2:

     [A] great deal of conversation had taken place about the drawing-room, and whether or not young ladies wore powder as well as hoops when presented, and whether she was to have that honour: to the Lord Mayor's ball she knew she was to go.

   • 1860, Ellen Wood, East Lynne, Penguin 2005, p. 11:

     ‘Mrs Vane of Castle Marling is staying with us; she came up to present my child at the last Drawing-room but I think I heard something about her dining out to-day.’

5. (US) A private room on a railroad sleeping car.

• drawing room on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• Gordian worm