cancellus

American  

[kan-sel-uhs] / kænˈsɛl əs /

noun

Architecture.

• cancelli
  plural

1. (in an early Christian basilica) one of a row of bars separating the clergy and sometimes the choir from the congregation.

2. (in an ancient Roman basilica) one of a row of bars separating the court personnel from the spectators.

3. cancelli, a screen of such bars.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cancelli
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cancellus

< Latin, equivalent to canc ( rī ) grating (plural of cancer, apparently dissimilated form of carcer prison) + -ellus diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cancellus cancelli

Chancel is derived, through Fr. chancel or cancel, from Lat. cancellus, a cross-bar, occurring more usually in the plural in the sense of lattice, grating.

From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Weekley, Ernest

The torches had not been lighted, the cancelli admitted only dusk.

From Saul of Tarsus A Tale of the Early Christians by Miller, Elizabeth

A Chancellor was originally a man in charge of a chancel, or grating, Lat. cancelli.

From The Romance of Names by Weekley, Ernest

It is hard to say whether by the Latin word cancelli is meant the chancel-screen or the altar-rails, in some cases probably the latter.

From The Church Handy Dictionary by Anonymous

Then the night-wind, rising from the sea, swept in through the cancelli with a shriek, put out the lamp instantly and swept the long dragging curtain against the Herod standing in the dimly-illuminated corridor.

From Saul of Tarsus A Tale of the Early Christians by Miller, Elizabeth

The Roman woman, who had been lounging in a chair at the cancelli, turned languidly, and sprang up in feigned surprise.

From Saul of Tarsus A Tale of the Early Christians by Miller, Elizabeth