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; see caustic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hypocaust

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

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 7, 2023

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)

From them the hot air was carried back through the hypocaust and led to the rooms above by means of an ingenious system of flue tiles.

From Nicanor - Teller of Tales A Story of Roman Britain by Kinney, Margaret West

The mortar, however, between the stones of the walls of a hypocaust was found by my son to have been penetrated by many worm-burrows.

From The formation of vegetable mould through the action of worms, with observations on their habits by Darwin, Charles

The great fireplaces, one for every hypocaust, built in arches under the outer walls of the villa, were approached from the outside by passages of rough masonry.

From Nicanor - Teller of Tales A Story of Roman Britain by Kinney, Margaret West