loft

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loft.
1. Formerly, any upper floor, but now the volume contained by the pitched roof of a building and the supports for the ceiling of the topmost floor bounded by the walls. Essentially a garret, but used for storage, without any finishes.

2. Elevated platform, staging, or gallery within a larger room or hall, such as an excubitorium or watching-loft (e.g. the example in St Alban's Abbey, Herts.), Rood-loft, or organ-loft in a church.

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