Rathskeller

Rathskeller

Rathskeller (German: "council cellar", modern spelling: "Ratskeller") is a name in German-speaking countries for a bar below street level. The term originally referred specifically to restaurants that were located in the basement of city hall ("Rathaus"). As a proper noun, many taverns, nightclubs and similar establishments throughout the world now use this as a name. [http://www.takeourword.com/TOW154/page2.html] Your Etymological Queries Answered]

The word had been used in English since the mid-19th century.

Notable Rathskellers

The Boston, Massachusetts, Rathskeller (nicknamed "The Rat") was a Kenmore Square live music venue that opened in 1974. It is notable for being one of Greater Boston's premier music venues for three decades and the starting point for the WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble. [ [http://www.takeourword.com/TOW154/page2.html] Your Etymological Queries Answered]

The Ram's Head Rathskeller in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was opened in 1948 by an Austrian Jew by the last name of Danziger, who came to Chapel Hill as a refugee from the Holocaust. "The Rat" was the first restaurant in the area to employ an entirely African-American staff. Long a popular spot with students and alumni, the restaurant, which extends over a catacomb-like basement with many different rooms, is filled with UNC memorabilia and history. "The Rat" is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in Chapel Hill. Unfortunately, The Rams Head Rathskeller was closed down in 2008 due to non-payment of taxes, its decor and memorabilia was auctioned off leaving just the bones of the structure. The future of its unique location is unknown, but its for certain that Chapel Hill has lost one of its most valued and unique establishments.

Another Rathskeller restaurant is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and has served Bavarian fare since 1894.

Many universities have pubs or student center dining facilities bearing this name including Colorado State University ("The Ramskeller") [http://lscdolby.sc.colostate.edu/dining/ramskeller.asp] ,University of Tampa, Tulane University, University of Miami, Binghamton University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, McMaster University, Pennsylvania State University, College of New Jersey, Montclair State University, Quinnipiac University, Boston College ("The Rat") [http://bcm.bc.edu/issues/fall_2006/linden_lane/changes-at-the-rat.html] , Florida Institute of Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Dallas, St. Bonaventure University, Oberlin College, Kent State University and Wheeling Jesuit University.

External links

* [http://www.rathskeller.com/history.htm History of the Indianapolis Rathskeller]
* [http://www.mnhs.org/preserve/rathskeller.html Restoration of Minnesota State Rathskeller]

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • rathskeller — 1900, from Ger. ratskeller, earlier rathskeller, a cellar in a German town hall in which beer is sold, from rat council (see READ (Cf. read)) + keller cellar …   Etymology dictionary

  • Rathskeller — Raths kel ler (r[aum]ts k[e^]l*l[ e]r), n. [G., also {ratskeller}, prop., town hall cellar.] Orig., in Germany, the cellar or basement of the city hall, usually rented for use as a restaurant where beer is sold; hence, a beer saloon of the German …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rathskeller — Rathskeller, s. u. Rathhaus …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • rathskeller — ☆ rathskeller [rath′skel΄ər, rät′skel΄ər ] n. [Ger < rath (now rat) (akin to READ1), council, town hall + keller, cellar: because frequently located in the cellar of the city hall] a restaurant, usually below the street level, where beer is… …   English World dictionary

  • rathskeller — /raht skel euhr, rat , rath /, n. 1. (in Germany) the cellar of a town hall, often used as a beer hall or restaurant. 2. a restaurant patterned on the German rathskeller, usually located below street level. [1860 65; < G, equiv. to Rath… …   Universalium

  • Rathskeller, der — Der Rathskêller, des s, plur. ut nom. sing. ein dem Stadtrathe eines Ortes eigenthümlich gehöriger Wein oder Bierkeller …   Grammatisch-kritisches Wörterbuch der Hochdeutschen Mundart

  • rathskeller — noun Etymology: obsolete German (now Ratskeller), city hall basement restaurant, from Rat council + Keller cellar Date: 1766 a usually basement tavern or restaurant …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • rathskeller — noun A bar or restaurant in a basement, especially one that serves beer …   Wiktionary

  • rathskeller — Synonyms and related words: alehouse, bar, barrel house, barroom, beer garden, beer parlor, bistro, blind tiger, cabaret, cafe, cocktail lounge, dive, dramshop, drinking saloon, gin mill, groggery, grogshop, honky tonk, local, nightclub, pothouse …   Moby Thesaurus

  • rathskeller — n. basement pub or restaurant which serves wine and beer (German style) …   English contemporary dictionary

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