A platform that sticks out from the side of a building, usually above the ground, and is enclosed by a railing. People stand or sit on balconies to get fresh air or enjoy the view.
It came into English in the 1600s from Italian “balcone,” meaning a scaffold or large window ledge. The Italian word likely traces back to a Germanic root related to beams or supports.
Balconies started out less as fancy leisure spaces and more like practical platforms or extended window areas. Over time, they turned into symbols of romance and drama—think of Romeo and Juliet’s famous balcony scene.
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