hypocaust

American  

[hahy-puh-kawst, hip-uh-] / ˈhaɪ pəˌkɔst, ˈhɪp ə- /

noun

1. a hollow space or system of channels in the floor or walls of some ancient Roman buildings that provided a central heating system by receiving and distributing the heat from a furnace.

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hypocaust British  

/ ˈhaɪpəˌkɔːst /

noun

1. an ancient Roman heating system in which hot air circulated under the floor and between double walls

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Etymology

Origin of hypocaust

1670–80; < Latin hypocaustum < Greek hypókauston room heated from below, equivalent to hypo- hypo- + kaustón, neuter of kaustós (verbal adjective) heated, burned; caustic

Example Sentences

The Romans developed the hypocaust method of heating floors and walls thousands of years ago.

From Seattle Times

Earlier excavations near Scalford, Leicestershire, found traces of a building with mosaics, wall plaster and a hypocaust heating system.

From BBC

It has a well-preserved hypocaust, or apparatus for warming the house by hot air.

From Project Gutenberg

Hypocaust, hip′o-kawst, n. among the ancients, a vaulted chamber from which the heat of stoves was distributed to baths or rooms above: now applied to the fireplace of a stove or hothouse.

From Project Gutenberg

"He's a powerful and original thinker, and to involve myself in the hypocaust of his imagination is toxic for my own work."

From The Guardian