flat2 (flat)

[Orig. a dial. (Sc.) form (in simulation of flat1, level, which is, in fact, the ult. original) of flet, a floor or story of a house, the interior of a house, a house: see flet1.] 1. A floor or story of a building. [Scotch.] Hence, in recent general use-2. A floor, or separate division of a floor, fitted for housekeeping and designed to be occupied by a single family; an apartment. Compare apartment - house.-3. A building the various floors of which are fitted up as flats. This of course was before the period of the lofty flats which have familiarised us with mansions of a dozen stories high. Fortnightly Rev., N. S., XL. 53.