(Originally) a house party, usually featuring a musical performance, to which a small admission fee is charged to raise money for house rent; hence (Jazz) any musical session in a house or apartment.
Origin
1920s; earliest use found in Inter-State Tattler.
Definition of house rent party in US English:
house rent party
noun
US
(Originally) a house party, usually featuring a musical performance, to which a small admission fee is charged to raise money for house rent; hence (Jazz) any musical session in a house or apartment.