See Also: penthouse(1)(dictionary)
penthouse(2)(dictionary)
penthouse(encyclopedia)
penthouse(dictionary)

penthouse(1) (iou)



penthouse noun & adjective. , pentis, & other vars. ME.
[Anglo-Norman, aphet. from Old French apentis, apendis, from medieval Latin use of late Latin appendicium appendage, from Latin appendere (see APPEND); refash. in 16 by assoc. with French pente slope + HOUSE noun1, as if 'sloping house'.]
A. noun.
A subsidiary structure attached to the wall of a main building, having a sloping (or, formerly, horizontal) roof, and serving as a shelter, a covered walk or arcade, a porch, an outhouse, etc. Also, a sloping roof or ledge projecting from the wall of a building for shelter from the weather; rare the eaves of a roof when projecting greatly. ME.
b. A free-standing shed with a sloping roof. E19.
transf. & fig. Any of various structures or projections of the nature of or resembling a penthouse, as (a) an awning, a canopy; (b) in Real Tennis, the sloping roof of the corridor or galleries running around three sides of the court. M16.
A separate flat, apartment, etc., situated on the roof or the top floor of a tall building. L19.
b. attrib. or as adjective.
Of, pertaining to, or resembling a penthouse. E17.
A. Frater In the lift, ascending to the penthouse suite.
(Penthouse.) [The Penthouse Theatre at Washington University, Seattle.] Designating or pertaining to theatre-in-the-round. M20.