To room is to occupy a room. A roomer occupies a room, without boarding.
1828. She rooms with me, and is very interesting and agreeable.—Mrs. Stowe, Letter in ‘Life’ (1889), ii. 41. (N.E.D.)
1836. He is a Senior, and rooms just above me, and sometimes comes in to talk with me; and when he is there, the Sophs do not dare to enter.—‘Harvardiana,’ iii. 76.
1846. We roomed directly under Tutor K., one of the most nervous men I ever saw, who had as lief hear it thunder as hear one laugh in study hours.—Yale Lit. Mag., xi. 330 (June).
1847. Seven years ago I roomed in this room.—Id., xii. 114 (Jan.).
1887. Complaint had been made by some of the roomers.—Ohio State Journal, Sept. 2. (N.E.D.)
