[WAITING vbl. sb.] A room set apart for those who are obliged to wait (usually in a public building, now esp. in a railway-station; also at a doctor’s or dentist’s).
1683. J. Reid, Scots Gard’ner (1907), 3. There are ten steps up to the first story (which is hall or dining-room, withdrawing-room, bed-chamber, and waiting-room).
1834. Marryat, P. Simple, lii. I had called to pay my respects at the Admiralty, previous to joining, and was kicking my heels in the waiting-room.
1839. Bradshaw’s Railway Companion. Sufficient time being allowed at the Birmingham Station, where refreshments are provided, and waiting rooms, with female attendants.
1869. Trollope, He knew, etc., ix. (1878), 50. A club waiting-room is always a gloomy, unpromising place for a confidential conversation.
1883. Manch. of To-day, 175. A rich-toned musical box is continually playing in the [dentist’s] waiting-room.
attrib. 1883. Miss Yonge, Langley Advent., 257. They offered to make her a waiting-room woman as soon as there was a vacancy.
