grotto

English

/ˈɡɹɒt.əʊ/, /ˈɡɹɑ.toʊ/

noun
Definitions
  • A small cave.
  • An artificial cavern-like retreat.
  • A Marian shrine, usually built in a cavern-like structure.
  • A local organization of cavers that typically organizes trips to caves and provides information and training for caving; a caving club.
  • (Satanism) A secretive name for a local group of underground Satanists.

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian grotta (cave) derived from Latin grupta, crypta (vault).

Origin

Latin

crypta

Gloss

vault

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms