chevet

American  

[shuh-vey] / ʃəˈveɪ /

noun

1. an apse, as of a Gothic cathedral.

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chevet British  

/ ʃəˈveɪ /

noun

1. a semicircular or polygonal east end of a church, esp a French Gothic church, often with a number of attached apses

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Etymology

Origin of chevet

1800–10; < French, earlier chevès, Old French chevez ≪ Latin capitium opening or covering for the head. See caput

Example Sentences

Chunks of limestone lay on the ground, having fallen from the upper part of the chevet, or the eastern end of the Gothic church.

From Time • Nov. 29, 2

Ce Prince inquiet ne dormoit point, qu'il n'e�t sous son chevet deux �p�es nues et deux pistolets chargez.

From History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain, Vols. 1 and 2 by Prescott, William Hickling

Though the apse is all but universal, the French chevet, with its crown of clustering chapels, was not adopted in Italy.

From Architecture Gothic and Renaissance by Smith, T. Roger (Thomas Roger)

Here we see a noble ground-plan, consisting of nave with aisles, transepts, central lantern and chevet, consisting of an apsidal choir, with a surrounding aisle and chapels opening into it at intervals.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 4 "Aram, Eugene" to "Arcueil" by Various

Externally the most remarkable feature is the arrangement and decoration of the apside—there is hardly enough of it to come within the classification of the chevet.

From The Cathedrals of Southern France by Mansfield, M. F. (Milburg Francisco)