great hall

plural great halls

1. architectureThe main room of a palace, castle or large manor house in the Middle Ages, or in a country house of the 16th and early 17th centuries.

   Even in castles and manor houses space was limited, and rooms including the great hall were used for other functions beyond dining.

   2004, Melitta Weiss Adamson, Food in Medieval Times, →ISBN, page 156

2. architectureThe principal building of a manor or castle compound.

   "Now this" — he indicated the great building facing them, with a handsome flight of steps up to the open door — "this is the great hall."

   2005, Philippa Gregory, The Constant Princess, →ISBN