mez·za·nine 
(m
ĕz
ə-n
ēn
′, m
ĕz
′ə-n
ēn
)
n.1. A partial story between two main stories of a building.
2. The lowest balcony in a theater or the first few rows of that balcony.
adj. Of or relating to securities granting a claim on interest or assets that is subordinate to that of secured and senior debt but above that of equity.
[French, from Italian mezzanino, diminutive of mezzano, middle, from Latin mediānus, in the middle; see MEDIAN.]