easel

American  

[ee-zuhl] / ˈi zəl /

noun

1. a stand or frame for supporting or displaying at an angle an artist's canvas, a blackboard, a china plate, etc.

2. Also called masking frame.  Photography. a frame, often with adjustable masks, used to hold photographic paper flat and control borders when printing enlargements.

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easel British  

/ ˈiːzəl /

noun

1. a frame, usually in the form of an upright tripod, used for supporting or displaying an artist's canvas, blackboard, etc

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Other Word Forms

• easeled adjective

Etymology

Origin of easel

1625–35; < Dutch ezel ass, easel (cognate with German Esel, Old English esel ass) < Vulgar Latin *asilus, for Latin asellus, diminutive of asinus ass ¹

Example Sentences

She was in the big studio where she painted, and she was working at her easel, humming and holding a paintbrush with a blue-daubed end in her hand.

From Literature

The portrait of you sat dusty on its easel.

From Literature

And she plays a supporting role in the background via a mirrored image of her at her easel, eyeing the tree.

From The Wall Street Journal

Beowulf had knitted a carrying case with a strap, perfect for those times when one gets the urge to paint en plein air and needs to carry one’s portable easel, paints, and brushes outdoors.

From Literature

The frameless paintings sat in a corner of the room on easels, reminiscent of Ross’ humble TV studio.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• tripod