Rez-de-chaussee

‖n. [ F., lit., level of the street. See Raze, v. t., and Causey. ] (Arch.) The ground story of a building, either on a level with the street or raised slightly above it; -- said esp. of buildings on the continent of Europe.

Tier above tier of neat apartments rise over the little shops which form the rez-de-chaussée. The Century. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]