Hall

A hall is a large room or building used for gatherings, ceremonies, or as a passage within a structure. In architecture, the term can denote a central entry space in a house or the main room of a medieval noble residence, known as the great hall, which served as a dining and audience space. The word derives from Old English heall, meaning a large building or dwelling.

In modern usage, halls may function as entrance rooms or foyers in residences, or as spaces designed for public or semi-public events, such as concert halls, lecture halls, conference halls, banquet halls, and town halls. The design and size of halls range from intimate domestic spaces to vast ceremonial rooms.

The term hall is also used in place names and as a surname. Hall is a common English and Scottish surname likely deriving from residence near a hall or from an occupation or nickname associated with a hall. It has produced many notable individuals across diverse fields.

In culture and government, the word appears in phrases like town hall, legislative hall, and hall of fame, reflecting uses as centers of public life, memory, and recognition. The plural halls denotes multiple such spaces or buildings. The concept of the hall—whether a private entrance, a grand ceremonial space, or a local government building—appears across architecture, society, and nomenclature.