- Lobby
- Lobby Lob"by, n.; pl. {Lobbies}. [LL. lobium, lobia, laubia, a
covered portico fit for walking, fr. OHG. louba, G. laube,
arbor. See {Lodge}.]
1. (Arch.) A passage or hall of communication, especially
when large enough to serve also as a waiting room. It
differs from an antechamber in that a lobby communicates
between several rooms, an antechamber to one only; but
this distinction is not carefully preserved.
[1913 Webster]
2. That part of a hall of legislation not appropriated to the official use of the assembly; hence, the persons, collectively, who frequent such a place to transact business with the legislators; hence: any persons, not members of a legislative body, who strive to influence its proceedings by personal agency; a group of lobbyists for a particular cause; as, the drug industry lobby. [U. S.] [1913 Webster +PJC]
3. (Naut.) An apartment or passageway in the fore part of an old-fashioned cabin under the quarter-deck. [1913 Webster]
4. (Agric.) A confined place for cattle, formed by hedges. trees, or other fencing, near the farmyard. [1913 Webster]
{Lobby member}, a lobbyist. [Humorous cant, U. S.] [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.