Derivation

• The word "mezzanine" comes from a Latin root, "medianus," meaning "in the middle." Through the Italian "mezzano," which means "middle," the word becomes "mezzanine" in French. The etymology tells us something about the meaning of the word: a mezzanine is not just any raised area or balcony, but rather must be in the middle, between two other levels.
  
  

Construction

• A mezzanine level is built above the floor of an existing room, but crucially, it shares the same ceiling as the lower level. The mezzanine may be supported by pillars, and if high enough, the space below it can still be used. Often a mezzanine is fringed with a balcony rail. However, an area that is only slightly raised, and has a solid base, can still be referred to as a mezzanine.
  
  

Misconceptions

• In sports stadiums, the mezzanine level is usually not a true mezzanine, as it is a storey in its own right, as much as any other balcony.