mansard

[ man-sahrd, -serd ]

noun

1. Also called mansard roof. a hip roof, each face of which has a steeper lower part and a shallower upper part. Compare French roof.
2. the story under such a roof.

mansard

/ -səd; ˈmænsɑːd /

noun

1. Also calledmansard roof a roof having two slopes on both sides and both ends, the lower slopes being steeper than the upper Compare gambrel roof
2. an attic having such a roof

Word History and Origins

Origin of mansard¹

1725–35; < French mansarde, named after N. F. Mansart

Word History and Origins

Origin of mansard¹

C18: from French mansarde, after François Mansart

Example Sentences

She climbed through a mansard window in the roof and watched as it hovered above.

From New York Times

Haggerty sold that building, but he’s still a landlord and still in love with his 1890s’ house with a mansard roof and fish scale shingles that he bought for $30,000 in 1971.

From Seattle Times

Mr. Sempé gave most of his work, especially portrayals of Paris, a heavy veneer of nostalgia: the city’s traditional mansard roofs, roads full of Citroëns and baguettes peeking from shopping bags.

From Washington Post

Some have gable roofs; others have mansard roofs.

From Washington Post

Simulated cracks slash across brickwork on townhouse chimney stacks, and mansards seem to be melting.

From New York Times