lobby

Etymology 1

From Old French *lobie, from Medieval Latin lobium, lobia, laubia (“a portico, covered way, gallery”), borrowed from Frankish *laubijā (“arbour, shelter”). Related to Old English lēaf (“foliage”). More at leaf. Doublet of lodge and loggia. Political sense derives from the entrance hall of legislatures, where people traditionally tried to influence legislators because it was the most convenient place to meet them.

noun

1. An entryway or reception area; vestibule; passageway; corridor.
   I had to wait in the lobby for hours before seeing the doctor.
2. That part of a hall of legislation not appropriated to the official use of the assembly.
3. (politics) A class or group of interested people who try to influence public officials; collectively, lobbyists.
   The influence of the tobacco lobby has decreased considerably in the US.
4. (video games) A virtual area where players can chat and find opponents for a game.
5. (nautical) An apartment or passageway in the fore part of an old-fashioned cabin under the quarter-deck.
6. A confined place for cattle, formed by hedges, trees, or other fencing, near the farmyard.
7. A margin along either side of the playing field in the sport of kabaddi.
8. A waiting area in front of a bank of elevators.
   Ranger Leslie Thompson, assigned to elevator duty, brought the elevator to the surface about 12:30 to bring down the tourists who were in the lobby of the elevator tower at that time. 2005, Charles R. "Butch" Farabee Jr., Death, Daring, and Disaster (page 135)

verb

1. (intransitive, transitive) To attempt to influence (a public official or decision-maker) in favor of a specific opinion or cause.
   For years, pro-life groups have continued to lobby hard for restrictions on abortion.
   2002, Jim Hightower, in Wikiquote The corporations don't have to lobby the government anymore. They are the government.
   Allen Gregory DeLongpre: Yeah, it's not a big deal. I lobbied for fuel-cell technology on Capitol Hill. I'm friends with Sandy Bullock, really good friends. Who cares? It's not a pissing contest, right, J? 2011 Allen Gregory, "Pilot" (season 1, episode 1)
   Policing the relationship between government and business in a free society is difficult. Businesspeople have every right to lobby governments, and civil servants to take jobs in the private sector. 2013-08-10, Schumpeter, “Cronies and capitols”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848

Etymology 2

Shortened from lobscouse.

noun

1. (West Midlands) lobscouse
   My mam cooked us lobby for tea last night.