A penthouse or a penthouse apartment or suite is a luxurious flat or set of rooms at the top of a tall building.
...her swish Manhattan penthouse.
...his penthouse flat in Chelsea.
penthouse in British English
(ˈpɛntˌhaʊs)
noun
1.
a flat or maisonette built onto the top floor or roof of a block of flats
2.
a construction on the roof of a building, esp one used to house machinery
3.
a shed built against a building, esp one that has a sloping roof
4. real tennis
the roofed corridor that runs along three sides of the court
Word origin
C14 pentis (later penthouse, by folk etymology), from Old French apentis, from Late Latin appendicium appendage, from Latin appendere to hang from; see appendix
penthouse in American English
(ˈpɛntˌhaʊs)
noun
1.
a small structure, esp. one with a sloping roof, attached to a larger building
2.
a sloping roof, or, sometimes, an awning, etc. extending out from a wall or building
3.
a.
an apartment or other houselike structure built on the roof of a building
b.
a luxury apartment on an upper floor, esp. the top floor of a building
Word origin
altered (infl. by house) < pentice < ME pentis, penthouse < MFr apentis < ML appenticium < LL appendicium, lit., an appendage < L appendere: see append