Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
living room, drawing room, lounge, parlor, sitting room
These are some of the more familiar names for the room that, along with the dining room, serves as the main room for social purposes in a dwelling. Americans use living room most frequently, but sitting room and parlor are common older American terms, sometimes with a quaintly rural flavor. Drawing room (from withdrawing room, the room to which one goes after dinner) is a more formal term, lounge more modern and modish, and both are predominantly British, although American mansions may have drawing rooms too, and American hotels and motels may have lounges.
