common room

a room or lounge for informal use by all.

Origin of common room

First recorded in 1660–70

Mason was the mathematical master who had testified in Common-room.

Stalky & Co. |Rudyard Kipling
In the common-room he found precisely the scene he had expected.

The Trampling of the Lilies |Rafael Sabatini
The Common-Room man here entered, and whispered to Carlton that a stranger was waiting for him in his rooms.

Loss and Gain |John Henry Newman
There, in that common-room of the caf, deserted at this hour of mid-afternoon, the great man came to him.

Scaramouche |Rafael Sabatini

In the common-room nothing had changed, and the men lay about precisely as he had left them.

The Trampling of the Lilies |Rafael Sabatini

common room

mainly British a sitting room in schools, colleges, etc, for the relaxation of students or staff