parvis

par·vis  (pärvs)

n.

1. An enclosed courtyard or space at the entrance to a building, especially a cathedral, that is sometimes surrounded by porticoes or colonnades.

2. One of the porticoes or colonnades surrounding such a space.

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[Middle English, from Old French, alteration of pareis, paradise, from Late Latin paradsus, garden, paradise; see paradise.]

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parvis, parvise [ˈpɑːvɪs]

n

(Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Architecture) a court or portico in front of a building, esp a church

[via Old French from Late Latin paradīsus paradise]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

parvis - a courtyard or portico in front of a building (especially a cathedral) courtyard, court - an area wholly or partly surrounded by walls or buildings; "the house was built around an inner court"