HALL (Fr. salle, salon, Ital. sale, salon, Ger. Seal), the principal apartment in the large dwellings of the Middle Ages used for the purposes of receptions, feasts, &c. In the Norman castle the hall was generally in the keep above the ground floor, where the retainers lived, the basement being devoted to stores and dungeons for confining prisoners. Later halls, indeed some Norman halls (not in castles), are generally on the ground. floor, as at Westminster, approached by a porch either at the end, as in this last example, or at the side, as at Guildhall, London, haring at one end. a raised DAIS (which see) or Estrade. The roofs are generally open, and more or less ornamented. In the middle of these was an opening to let out the smoke (see LOUVRE, FEMERELL), though in later times the halls have large chimney places with funnels or chimney shafts for this purpose. At this period there were usually two deeply recessed bay windows at each end of the dais, and doors leading into the withdrawing-rooms or the ladies' apartments; they are also. generally wainscoted with oak, in small panels, to the height of five or six feet, the panels often being enriched. Westminster Hall was originally divided into three parts, like a nave and side aisles, as are some On the Continent.