rez-de-chaussee

Rez`-de-chaus`sée", n. [F., lit., level of the street. See Raze, v. t., and Causey.] (Arch.) Defn: The ground story of a building, either on a level with the street or raised slightly above it; -- said esp. of buildings on the continent of Europe. Tier above tier of neat apartments rise over the little shops which form the rez-de-chaussée. The Century.

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