parterre

[prettygoodword]

parterre (pahr-TAIR) - n., an ornamental garden with paths between the beds; the part of the main floor of a theater that is behind the orchestra, especially (Brit & Irish) the pit or (US) the parquet circle; (New York) an apartment balcony.


Not being a New Yorker, I cannot confirm that last sense. Note that the US theater sense is the back of the ground floor, under the balconies, while the British theatre sense is the very front. But it's the gardens that caught my attention and are why I'm posting this. Adopted around 1640 from French par terre, on/over the ground.

---L.

Comments

[mount-oregano.livejournal.com]

In Spanish, a "parterre" (from French) is a garden or portion of a garden with lawns, flowers, and wide paths. Pronounced par-TARE-ay. And roll that second R a little extra, since it's double.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

So fully Hispanized, the way it's also been Anglicized in English.

---L.