piano nobile

[ pyah-naw naw-bee-le ]

noun

, Italian.

, plural pia·ni no·bi·li [pyah, -nee , naw, -bee-lee].

1. the principal story of a large building, as of a palace or villa.

piano nobile

/ ˈpjɑːnəʊ ˈnəʊbɪlɪ /

noun

1. architect the main floor of a large house, containing the reception rooms: usually of lofty proportions

Word History and Origins

Origin of piano nobile¹

Italian: great floor

Example Sentences

You were crossing the garden—you were bending over the sun-dial—and I spied upon you from a window of the piano nobile.

From Project Gutenberg

The approach to this piano nobile was up a flight of easily graded marble stairs, where in frequent niches stood old statues.

From Project Gutenberg

Her salons on the piano nobile of the palace are rich in souvenirs and rare objects of art.

From Project Gutenberg

Nobody who did not belong to "the society" of the town could in any way show his intruding face in the "piano nobile."

From Project Gutenberg

I asked about our old apartment (piano nobile—first floor); she said it was always let—generally to foreigners.

From Project Gutenberg