[FridayNightTV]

> In other words, calling a multi-million pound property a “cottage” would rankle an American ear

To this British ear.....

Plenty cottages sell for multi-millions (including many in my village, unfortunately). Please take your semantics elsewhere.

[majormajor]

I don't know why "American ear" was brought into this, even the OED has definitions that agree a cottage is small and this is... very not small.