HOTEL, a French term, anciently signifying a house, or dwelling place.—It is now more commonly used for the palaces, or houses of the king, princes, and great lords. In this sense they say, the hotel de Conde, hotel de Conti, hotel du Louvre, &c.
The grand preuſt de l'hotel, is the first judge of the officers of the king's household. His jurisdiction is much like that of lord steward of the household of the king of England.
The hotel de ville is what we call a town-house, or town-hall.