mezzanine

noun

1. the lowest balcony or forward part of such a balcony in a theater.
2. a low story between two other stories of greater height in a building, especially when the low story and the one beneath it form part of one composition; an entresol.

noun

1. Also called: mezzanine floor, entresol an intermediate storey, esp a low one between the ground and first floor of a building
2. theatre, US and Canadian the first balcony
3. theatre, British a room or floor beneath the stage

adjective

4. of or relating to an intermediate stage in a financial processmezzanine funding Often shortened to: mezz

n.1711, “a low story between two tall ones in a building,” from French mezzanine (17c.), from Italian mezzanino, from mezzano “middle,” from Latin medianus “of the middle,” from medius (see medial (adj.)). Sense of “lowest balcony in a theater” first recorded 1927.