parvis

Meaning

Noun

• An enclosed courtyard in front of a building, especially a cathedral.
• A portico surrounding such a space.
• The porch of a church, or the room over it.

Origin

• From Middle English parvis, parvise, parvys, borrowed from Old French parvis, parevis, from Latin paradīsus, from Ancient Greek παράδεισος, ultimately from Proto-Iranian *paridayjah. Used in the Middle Ages to describe the court in front of St Peter's in Rome, and later similar courts in front of other churches. paradise.