mezzanine
[mez-uh-neen, mez-uh-neen]
- the lowest balcony or forward part of such a balcony in a theater.
- a low story between two other stories of greater height in a building, especially when the low story and the one beneath it form part of one composition; an entresol.
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Origin of mezzanine
1705–15; < French < Italian mezzanino, equivalent to mezzan(o) middle (< Latin mediānus median) + -ino diminutive suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for mezzanine
Contemporary Examples
Orchestra seats cost $100; mezzanine is $75; and balcony, $50.
Here’s the Program for Women in the World Texas!October 2, 2014
There is a grand wooden staircase that leads to a mezzanine with seating.
Historical Examples
I listened attentively and it seemed to me they were sitting in the mezzanine.
The House with the Mezzanine and Other StoriesAnton Tchekoff
He mounted to the mezzanine floor, tried the door, and found it locked.
The Woman GivesOwen Johnson
There, on a sort of mezzanine, he had a gorgeous little suite.
The DelugeDavid Graham Phillips
He found it on the mezzanine, suitably lavish, clean and well-furnished.
Forsyte's RetreatWinston Marks
By and by, when she's foot-loose, she wants to see you in the mezzanine.
The Real ManFrancis Lynde
mezzanine
- Also called: mezzanine floor, entresol an intermediate storey, esp a low one between the ground and first floor of a building
- theatre, US and Canadian the first balcony
- theatre, British a room or floor beneath the stage
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- of or relating to an intermediate stage in a financial processmezzanine funding Often shortened to: mezz
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Word Origin
C18: from French, from Italian, diminutive of mezzano middle, from Latin mediānus median
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for mezzanine
n.
1711, "a low story between two tall ones in a building," from French mezzanine (17c.), from Italian mezzanino, from mezzano "middle," from Latin medianus "of the middle," from medius (see medial (adj.)). Sense of "lowest balcony in a theater" first recorded 1927.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper