hypocaust

[ hahy-puh-kawst, hip-uh- ]
/ ˈhaɪ pəˌkɔst, ˈhɪp ə- /

noun

a hollow space or system of channels in the floor or walls of some ancient Roman buildings that provided a central heating system by receiving and distributing the heat from a furnace.

Origin of hypocaust

1670–80; < Latin hypocaustum < Greek hypókauston room heated from below, equivalent to hypo- hypo- + kaustón, neuter of kaustós (verbal adjective) heated, burned; see caustic

Words nearby hypocaust

hypoblast, hypobranchial, hypocalcemia, hypocalcification, hypocapnia, hypocaust, hypocenter, hypocentre, hypochloremia, hypochlorhydria, hypochlorite

Example sentences from the Web for hypocaust

British Dictionary definitions for hypocaust

hypocaust
/ (ˈhaɪpəˌkɔːst) /

noun

an ancient Roman heating system in which hot air circulated under the floor and between double walls

Word Origin for hypocaust

C17: from Latin hypocaustum, from Greek hupokauston room heated from below, from hupokaiein to light a fire beneath, from hypo- + kaiein to burn