mezzanine

Where does the word "mezzanine" come from? It comes from Latin medianus, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1690s).

Mezzanine’s story begins in Latin: medianus meant “in the middle.” In the middle, from medius (middle). By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Italian as mezzanino. Settled in Italian for a low intermediate story between two main floors. From there it passed into French as mezzanine by 1600s-1700s. Carried from Italian into French architectural vocabulary. It reached English by 1690s as mezzanine. Italian 'mezzano', middle. Today, mezzanine means a low, intermediate floor level between two main stories of a building.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient medianus "in the middle", in the middle, from medius (middle).
2. Stage 2 · Italian · 1600s mezzanino "a low intermediate floor level", settled in Italian for a low intermediate story between two main floors.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1600s-1700s mezzanine "an intermediate floor level", carried from Italian into French architectural vocabulary.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1690s mezzanine "an intermediate floor level between two main stories", Italian 'mezzano', middle.