dossal

Or dos·sel

[dos-uhl]

noun

1. Also an ornamental hanging placed at the back of an altar or at the sides of the chancel.

2. Archaic.,  dosser.

dossal

/ ˈdɒsəl /

noun

1. an ornamental hanging, placed at the back of an altar or at the sides of a chancel

Word History and Origins

Origin of dossal¹

1650–60; < Medieval Latin dossale, for Latin dorsale, neuter of dorsālis, equivalent to dors ( um ) back + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dossal¹

C17: from Medieval Latin dossāle, neuter of dossālis, variant of dorsālis _dorsal

Example Sentences

The beautiful dossal, or ornamented cloth suspended behind an altar.

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The dossal is used where there is no reredos and usually is of the Church color for the Festival or Season.

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Sometimes a painting takes its place, or a dossal—a decorated curtain of as rich material as circumstances will allow.

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Leaning heavily upon the lady, at the end he won to her maiden's chamber, where there was a fair bed covered with a rich dossal of broidered silk, edged with fur.

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I called in many a craftsmaster    To fix emblazoned glass, To figure Cross and Sepulchre    On dossal, boss, and brass.

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