Question

Why are floors called "stories" — as in a "two-story" or "multi-story" building?

Answer

The history and origins of words are often blurred by time and usage. Here is one explanation for how the word "story" came to refer to the various floors of a building.

During the middle ages, most buildings were one level, except for churches and homes of the wealthy. The upper levels of churches were often decorated with rows of stained glass depicting biblical stories, and the wealthy often had pictures or stained glass on the upper levels of their homes. So the level above the ground floor was the level with the "stories."