finial
Americannoun
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Architecture. a relatively small, ornamental, terminal feature at the top of a gable, pinnacle, etc.
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an ornamental termination to the top of a piece of furniture, or of one part of such a piece.
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Typography. a curve terminating the main stroke of the characters in some italic fonts.
noun
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an ornament on top of a spire, gable, etc, esp in the form of a foliated fleur-de-lys
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an ornament at the top of a piece of furniture, etc
Other Word Forms
- finialed adjective
Etymology
Origin of finial
1400–50; late Middle English, derivative of Latin fīnis end; -al 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I tend to go away from decorative finials that are very traditional,” he added, noting that he usually prefers simpler options, like curtain rods with flat end caps.
From Seattle Times
Sassoon and his children bought and also commissioned Jewish ceremonial art, such as two ornate gilt silver Torah finials, each topped with an open palm embossed with prayers.
From New York Times
The setting also nearly upstages the bird in a painting of a kestrel perched on a finial atop an ornate building.
From Washington Post
Both show a tapestry on the wall and a chair with lion’s-head finials.
From Washington Post
The playthings form elaborately ornamented chateaus, skyscrapers taller than most children, rudimentary cabins, houses of worship with gilded finials, gas stations, bunkers and intergalactic transit hubs.
From New York Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
