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 • Mar. 7, 2023

The remains disclosed included a bath, hypocaust, channels and pipes for the passage of water and hot air, and tesselated pavements.

From The Towns of Roman Britain by Bevan, James Oliver

The hypocaust was a hot-air furnace built in the basement or cellar of the house and from which the heat was conducted by flues to the bath rooms and other apartments.

From Inventions in the Century by Doolittle, William Henry

The hypocaust, or furnace and apparatus, 25, for heating the water, are so placed that they can not be seen from the triangular court.

From Museum of Antiquity A Description of Ancient Life by Haines, T. L. (Thomas Louis)

This space, although they did not know it, was the hypocaust or heating chamber of the colonial Roman house, and had been kept filled with hot air from a furnace.

From Masters of the Guild by Lamprey, L.