/peuh vil"yeuhn/ , n.
1. a light, usually open building used for shelter, concerts, exhibits, etc., as in a park or fair.
2. any of a number of separate or attached buildings forming a hospital or the like.
3. Archit. a projecting element of a façade, used esp. at the center or at each end and usually treated so as to suggest a tower.
4. a tent, esp. a large and elaborate one.
5. a small, ornamental building in a garden.
6. Also called base . Jewelry. the part of a cut gem below the girdle.
v.t.
7. to shelter in or as if in a pavilion.
8. to furnish with pavilions.
[ 1250-1300; ME pavilon paveillon papilion- (s. of papilio ) butterfly ]