hypocaust

(pō kôst′, hipō-)

noun

a space below the floor in some ancient Roman buildings, into which hot air was piped to warm the rooms

Origin: L hypocaustum < Gr hypokauston < hypokaiein, to heat by applying fire below < hypo- (see hypo-) + kaiein, to burn

See hypocaust in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
A space under the floor of an ancient Roman building where heat from a furnace was accumulated to heat a room or a bath.

Origin:

Origin: Latin hypocaustum

Origin: , from Greek hupokauston

Origin: , from hupokaiein, to light a fire beneath

Origin: : hupo-, hypo-

Origin: + kaiein, to burn

.

Learn more about hypocaust

link/cite print suggestion box