[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

public \pub"lic\, a. l. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people:
   cf. f. public. see people.
   1. of or pertaining to the people; belonging to the people;
      relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community;
      -- opposed to private; as, the public treasury.
      1913 webster

            to the public good
            private respects must yield.          --milton.
      1913 webster

            he alexander hamilton touched the dead corpse of
            the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet. --d.
                                                  webster.
      1913 webster

   2. open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common;
      notorious; as, public report; public scandal.
      1913 webster

            joseph, . . . not willing to make her a public
            example, was minded to put her away privily. --matt.
                                                  i. 19.
      1913 webster

   3. open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public
      house. "the public street." --shak.
      1913 webster

   public act or public statute law, an act or statute
      affecting matters of public concern. of such statutes the
      courts take judicial notice.

   public credit. see under credit.

   public funds. see fund, 3.

   public house, an inn, or house of entertainment.

   public law.
      a see international law, under international.
      b a public act or statute.

   public nuisance. law see under nuisance.

   public orator. eng. universities see orator, 3.

   public stores, military and naval stores, equipments, etc.
      

   public works, all fixed works built by civil engineers for
      public use, as railways, docks, canals, etc.; but
      strictly, military and civil engineering works constructed
      at the public cost.
      1913 webster
see also:
people private public act public statute public credit credit 
public funds fund public house public law international law 
international public nuisance nuisance public orator orator 
public stores public works 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

public house
     n : tavern consisting of a building with a bar and public rooms;
         often provides light meals syn: pub, saloon, pothouse,
          gin mill, taphouse
see also:
pub saloon pothouse gin mill taphouse 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

52 moby thesaurus words for "public house":
   alehouse, bar, barrel house, barroom, beer garden, beer parlor,
   bistro, blind tiger, boardinghouse, cabaret, cafe, cocktail lounge,
   dive, dorm, dormitory, doss house, dramshop, drinkery,
   drinking saloon, fleabag, flophouse, gin mill, groggery, grogshop,
   guest house, honky-tonk, hospice, hostel, hostelry, hotel, inn,
   local, lodge, lodging house, nightclub, ordinary, pension, posada,
   pothouse, pub, public, rathskeller, roadhouse, rooming house,
   rummery, rumshop, saloon, saloon bar, speakeasy, taproom, tavern,
   wine shop

Charnel House >> C Words
Charnel House, definition of term: Charnel House
charnel+house_pag1.html

Clearing House >> C Words
Clearing House, definition of term: Clearing House
clearing+house_pag1.html

Crazy House >> C Words
Crazy House, definition of term: Crazy House
crazy+house_pag1.html

Chapter House >> C Words
Chapter House, definition of term: Chapter House
chapter+house_pag1.html

Carriage House >> C Words
Carriage House, definition of term: Carriage House
carriage+house_pag1.html

Bee House >> B Words
Bee House, definition of term: Bee House
bee+house_pag1.html

Boarding House >> B Words
Boarding House, definition of term: Boarding House
boarding+house_pag1.html

Brokerage House >> B Words
Brokerage House, definition of term: Brokerage House
brokerage+house_pag1.html

Bath House >> B Words
Bath House, definition of term: Bath House
bath+house_pag1.html