A roofed platform along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor. It is typically open to the air and used as a living space in warm climates.
From Hindi बरामदा (barāmdā) and Portuguese varanda, both referring to a covered outdoor gallery or porch. The word entered English in the 18th century through British colonial architecture in India, where such structures were essential for comfort in hot climates. The Hindi term may derive from Persian.
The verandah was such a crucial colonial innovation that British architects considered it the key to surviving tropical climates! Every colonial house had to have one, and the design spread from India to become a defining feature of architecture across the entire British Empire, from Australia to the Caribbean.
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