The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Saloon \Sa*loon"\ (s[.a]*l[=oo]n"), n. [F. salon (cf. It.
   salone), fr. F. salle a large room, a hall, of German or
   Dutch origin; cf. OHG. sal house, hall, G. saal; akin to AS.
   sael, sele, D. zaal, Icel. salr, Goth. saljan to dwell, and
   probably to L. solum ground. Cf. Sole of the foot, Soil
   ground, earth.]
   1. A spacious and elegant apartment for the reception of
      company or for works of art; a hall of reception, esp. a
      hall for public entertainments or amusements; a large room
      or parlor; as, the saloon of a steamboat.
      [1913 Webster]

            The gilden saloons in which the first magnates of
            the realm . . . gave banquets and balls. --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Popularly, a public room for specific uses; esp., a
      barroom or grogshop; as, a drinking saloon; an eating
      saloon; a dancing saloon.
      [1913 Webster]

            We hear of no hells, or low music halls, or low
            dancing saloons [at Athens.]          --J. P.
                                                  Mahaffy.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

saloon
    n 1: a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served
         over a counter; "he drowned his sorrows in whiskey at the
         bar" [syn: barroom, bar, saloon, ginmill,
         taproom]
    2: tavern consisting of a building with a bar and public rooms;
       often provides light meals [syn: public house, pub,
       saloon, pothouse, gin mill, taphouse]
    3: a car that is closed and that has front and rear seats and
       two or four doors [syn: sedan, saloon]