hypocausts
/ˈhaɪpəˌkɔsts/
noun
- Ancient Roman underfloor heating systems that circulated hot air from a furnace through empty spaces beneath floors and inside walls.
- The ruins of the Roman bathhouse still show the brick pillars that supported the floor above the hypocausts.
- Archaeologists discovered well-preserved hypocausts beneath the mosaic tiles of the ancient villa.
- Wealthy Romans enjoyed heated rooms in winter thanks to hypocausts built by skilled engineers.