Foyer
/ˈfɔɪ.ər/noun
An entrance hall or lobby in a building, especially a theater or hotel.
Did you know?The word comes from French, ultimately from Latin *focus* meaning “hearth” or “fireplace,” so the modern foyer still carries the ancient idea of a home’s sacred fire at its center.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dhēgʷʰ-
“to burn”
Latin
Latin
focus
“hearth, fireplace, fire”
Old French
Old French
foier / foyer
“hearth, fireplace; later a room with a fireplace”
18th Century
French
foyer
“hearth; home; gathering place”
Modern English
English
foyer
“entrance hall or lobby”