penthouse

Where does the word "penthouse" come from? It comes from Late Latin appendicium, passing through Anglo-Norman before entering English (1500s).

Penthouse’s story begins in Late Latin: appendicium meant “appendage.” 'an appendage', from appendere 'to hang on'. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Anglo-Norman as apentis. A lean-to shed built against a larger building. It reached English by 1500s as penthouse. Middle English pentis was reshaped as if it were a 'house' (and linked with French pente 'slope'); the luxury top-floor flat sense arose in 1920s New York. Today, penthouse means a luxurious flat on the top floor of a tall building.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · late antiquity appendicium "appendage", 'an appendage', from appendere 'to hang on'.
2. Stage 2 · Anglo-Norman · 1200s apentis "lean-to", a lean-to shed built against a larger building.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s penthouse "lean-to; rooftop apartment", Middle English pentis was reshaped as if it were a 'house' (and linked with French pente 'slope'); the luxury top-floor flat sense arose in 1920s New York.