souterrain

American  

[soo-tuh-reyn, soo-tuh-reyn] / ˌsu təˈreɪn, ˈsu təˌreɪn /

noun

Chiefly Archaeology.

1. a subterranean passage or structure; grotto.

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souterrain British  

/ ˈsuːtəˌreɪn /

noun

1. archaeol an underground chamber or passage

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Etymology

Origin of souterrain

1725–35; < French: literally, underground, calque of Latin subterrāneus; see sous-sous, terrain

Example Sentences

Selon les plans du promoteur immobilier, ce bout de terrain deviendrait l’entrée d’un parking souterrain.

From New York Times • Apr. 13, 2017

There was a souterrain a short distance from Ballycairn fort in a field opposite to Cranogh National School.

From Ulster Folklore by Andrews, Elizabeth

Here they went in and opened the souterrain and brought out the King who was still in Darwaysh garb.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 15 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

She describes it as "a souterrain containing six chambers, with a length of eighty-seven feet exclusive of a flooded chamber."

From Ulster Folklore by Andrews, Elizabeth

He removed the stone and saw a ladder-like flight of steps whereby he descended until he found a huge souterrain all pillar'd and propped with columns of marble and alabaster.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 13 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir