Also 7 -ett. [F.: of unknown origin: see Littré and Scheler.]
† 1. A wooden dwelling, a booth, shed; = L. taberna. [Here perh. used on account of the connection of taberna and tavern: but perh. an error of some kind for cabanet.] Obs.
1632. Sir T. Hawkins, trans. Mathieu’s Unhappy Prosperitie, 261. The greatest houses were heretofore but Cabarets, the Capitoll was at first covered with thatch.
2. A drinking house, a pot-house. (Now almost exclusively an alien word referring to France, etc.; but formerly somewhat naturalized.)
1655. Bp. Bramhall, Agst. Hobbes, Wks. (1677), 701 (J.). Suppose this Servant, passing by some Cabaret, or Tennis-court, where his Camerads were drinking or playing.
1662. Pepys, Diary, 23 Sept. In most cabaretts in France they have writ upon the walls … ‘Dieu te regarde.’
1673. Dryden, Marr. à la Mode, V. i. 74. Sung, two or three years ago in Cabarets.
1682. Wheler, Journ. Greece, II. 203. At Gallata are some Christian Cabarets; but the Wine is dear.
1858. De Quincey, Autobiog. Sk., Wks. II. iv. 197. The little homely cabaret, which had been the scene of her brief romance.
