What is "rez-de-chauss'ee"

Rez-de-chauss'ee \Rez`-de-chaus`s['e]e"\, 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-chauss['e]e.
--The Century.