compluvium

noun

com·​plu·​vi·​um

kəmˈplüvēəm,

(ˈ)käm¦p-

plural compluvia

-ēə

: a square opening in the roof of the ancient Roman atrium toward which the roof sloped and through which the rain fell into the impluvium

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from compluere to flow together, from com- + pluere to rain

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