pavilion
pronunciation
How to pronounce pavilion in British English:
UK [pəˈvɪliən]
How to pronounce pavilion in American English:
US [pəˈvɪliən]
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- Noun:
- large and often sumptuous tent
Word Origin
- pavilion
- pavilion: [13] Pavilion got its name because some anonymous ancient Roman was reminded by a tent, with its two ‘wings’ spread out from a central crosspiece, of a ‘butterfly’. Latin for ‘butterfly’ was pāpiliō (a word of unknown origin), which hence came to be used for ‘tent’. English acquired it via Old French pavillon.
- pavilion (n.)
- c. 1200, "large, stately tent," from Old French paveillon "large tent; butterfly" (12c.), from Latin papilionem (nominative papilio) "butterfly, moth," in Medieval Latin "tent" (see papillon); the type of tent so called on resemblance to wings. Meaning "open building in a park, etc., used for shelter or entertainment" is attested from 1680s.
Example
- 1. Virtual passports are stamped at each national pavilion .
- 2. Water plays a central role in the pavilion 's design .
- 3. Anarchic and politicised rather than orderly and neutral , the pavilion defies swiss stereotypes .
- 4. In its pavilion the firm built a command centre to keep tabs on an imaginary smart city .
- 5. Newcomers sometimes think that their pavilion should represent their nation as if their artists were civil servants employed by the tourist office .