grotto

[ grot-oh ]

/ ˈgrɒt oʊ /

a cave or cavern.

an artificial cavernlike recess or structure.

Origin of grotto

1610–20; < Italian grotta < Vulgar Latin *crupta, for Latin crypta subterranean passage, chamber. See crypt

grot·toed, adjective grot·to·like, adjective

grotesk, grotesque, grotesquery, grotius, groton, grotto, grotty, grouch, grouchy, grough, ground

Then they do the grotto, and then Lady Lilias once more leads the way indoors.

Mrs. Geoffrey |Duchess
Stars and flowers of crystal were strewed around, and the grotto looked like a fit abode for sylphids or fairies.

Holidays at the Grange or A Week's Delight |Emily Mayer Higgins
The late afternoon is the best time for visiting this grotto.

Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Vol VIII |Various
In the evening we had the pleasure of seeing our brave dogs enter the grotto.

The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island |Johann David Wyss

The distance to the air-tractor had been over-estimated, and the Grotto must have been passed quite close.

The Home of the Blizzard |Douglas Mawson

grotto

/ (ˈɡrɒtəʊ) /

a small cave, esp one with attractive features

a construction in the form of a cave, esp as in landscaped gardens during the 18th century

C17: from Old Italian grotta, from Late Latin crypta vault; see crypt