an arched structure, usually made of stones, concrete, or bricks, forming a ceiling or roof over a hall, room, sewer, or other wholly or partially enclosed construction.
2.
an arched structure resembling a vault.
3.
a space, chamber, or passage enclosed by a vault or vaultlike structure, especially one located underground.
4.
an underground chamber, as a cellar or a division of a cellar.
5.
a room or compartment, often built of or lined with steel, reserved for the storage and safekeeping of valuables, especially such a place in a bank.
to extend or stretch over in the manner of an arch; overarch: An arbor vaulted the path.
13.
to store in a vault: The paintings will be vaulted when the museum is closed.
verb (used without object)
14.
to curve or bend in the form of a vault.
Origin: 1300–50; (noun) alteration of Middle English voute < Old French vou(l)te, volte < Vulgar Latin *volvita, for Latin volūta, noun use of feminine past participle of Latin volvere to turn (see revolve); (v.) alteration of Middle English vouten < Old French vou(l)ter, volter, derivative of vou(l)te, volte
"jump or leap over," 1531 (implied in vaulting), from M.Fr. volter "to gambol, leap," from It. voltare "to turn," from V.L. *volvitare "to turn, leap," frequentative of L. volvere "to turn, turn around, roll" (see vulva).