Cloakroom
Encyclopedia
A cloakroom, or sometimes coatroom, is a room for people to hang their cloaks. They are typically found inside large buildings, such as gymnasiums
, schools, churches or meeting halls.
In the UK a cloakroom may also be a lavatory. The word is often thought to be derived from the French cloaque (sewer). However, it comes from the French cloque meaning travelling cloak.
Attended cloakrooms, or coat checks, are staffed rooms where coats and bags can be stored securely. Typically, a ticket is given to the customer, with a corresponding ticket attached to the garment or item. They are often found in nightclubs. A nominal fee is generally charged, or if not, a tip is usually paid by the customer when they reclaim their item.
The concept of the coat check was initiated by Albert Behar in the New York area shortly after the depression. Mr. Behar noticed that customers put their coats on the back of their chairs, and offered to store the coats for the customers in a small room adjoining the restaurant.
' cloakrooms are how the parties interact with the Congressmen while they are on the floor, and are used by both the Senate
and the House of Representatives
. The cloakrooms serve as a place for congressmen to socialize, eat, and take naps without leaving the building. These rooms are closed to all except Congressmen and a few of their trusted staffers, and have their own phone numbers.
, an estate agent
will often use the word 'cloakroom' as a euphemism for a small, ground-floor lavatory
of a house or to a secondary lavatory
of an apartment
.
At Fortnum & Mason
, the gents’ lavatory
is referred to as the “cloakroom”. The term is still commonly used in hotels, stations, clubs, schools, museums and most other UK public venues in its traditional sense.
, cloak rooms are 24 hour manned facilities at railway stations where railway passengers can keep their luggage for a specific amount of time. This often suits day traders or pilgrims coming from smaller towns to larger cities and people waiting for a changeover to another train. Cloak rooms enable passengers to avoid carrying their luggage through the city while they conduct their business or tourism. The facility is operated by the Commercial Department of Indian Railways
at all major railway stations; smaller railway stations may not have this facility. A clerk collects the luggage from the passengers alighting from a train at that station or passengers having a train from that station by verifying their tickets. The locked luggage bags are collected and a receipt is issued, mentioning the date and time the luggage was surrendered. The items are then stored on racks in the cloak room. Passengers are advised not to store valuable items or personal effects in the bags. On return, passengers show their receipt, pay the necessary charges to the clerk, and collect their items.
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
, schools, churches or meeting halls.
In the UK a cloakroom may also be a lavatory. The word is often thought to be derived from the French cloaque (sewer). However, it comes from the French cloque meaning travelling cloak.
Attended cloakrooms, or coat checks, are staffed rooms where coats and bags can be stored securely. Typically, a ticket is given to the customer, with a corresponding ticket attached to the garment or item. They are often found in nightclubs. A nominal fee is generally charged, or if not, a tip is usually paid by the customer when they reclaim their item.
The concept of the coat check was initiated by Albert Behar in the New York area shortly after the depression. Mr. Behar noticed that customers put their coats on the back of their chairs, and offered to store the coats for the customers in a small room adjoining the restaurant.
U.S. Congress
The United States CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
' cloakrooms are how the parties interact with the Congressmen while they are on the floor, and are used by both the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. The cloakrooms serve as a place for congressmen to socialize, eat, and take naps without leaving the building. These rooms are closed to all except Congressmen and a few of their trusted staffers, and have their own phone numbers.
UK
In the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, an estate agent
Estate agent
An estate agent is a person or business that arranges the selling, renting or management of properties, and other buildings, in the United Kingdom and Ireland. An agent that specialises in renting is often called a letting or management agent...
will often use the word 'cloakroom' as a euphemism for a small, ground-floor lavatory
Toilet
A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory...
of a house or to a secondary lavatory
Toilet
A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory...
of an apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
.
At Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason, often shortened to just "Fortnum's" is a department store, situated in central London, with two other branches in Japan. Its headquarters is located at 181 Piccadilly, where it was established in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason...
, the gents’ lavatory
Toilet
A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory...
is referred to as the “cloakroom”. The term is still commonly used in hotels, stations, clubs, schools, museums and most other UK public venues in its traditional sense.
India
In IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, cloak rooms are 24 hour manned facilities at railway stations where railway passengers can keep their luggage for a specific amount of time. This often suits day traders or pilgrims coming from smaller towns to larger cities and people waiting for a changeover to another train. Cloak rooms enable passengers to avoid carrying their luggage through the city while they conduct their business or tourism. The facility is operated by the Commercial Department of Indian Railways
Indian Railways
Indian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
at all major railway stations; smaller railway stations may not have this facility. A clerk collects the luggage from the passengers alighting from a train at that station or passengers having a train from that station by verifying their tickets. The locked luggage bags are collected and a receipt is issued, mentioning the date and time the luggage was surrendered. The items are then stored on racks in the cloak room. Passengers are advised not to store valuable items or personal effects in the bags. On return, passengers show their receipt, pay the necessary charges to the clerk, and collect their items.