oriel

[ awr-ee-uh l, ohr‐ ]

/ ˈɔr i əl, ˈoʊr‐ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR oriel ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a bay window, especially one cantilevered or corbeled out from a wall.

(in medieval architecture) a large bay window of a hall or chamber.

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Origin of oriel

1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French oriol porch, passage, gallery, perhaps ≪ Latin aureolus “gilded”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for oriel

“You quite enlighten me on the subject,” observed Oriel Porphyry, endeavouring to suppress a laugh.
Lady Eureka, v. 2 (of 3)|Robert Folkestone Williams
In 1139, after settling the affairs of the diocese of Oriel, Malachy left Ireland on an important mission.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh|H. J. Lawlor
Oriel Porphyry regarded the musician, for the first time, with a look of distrust.
Lady Eureka, v. 1 (of 3)|Robert Folkestone Williams
Bodley, done at his own charge, in the window of the room which he occupied on the west side of Oriel College.
Annals of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, A.D. 1598-A.D. 1867|William Dunn Macray

The upper end contained an oriel window under which was a fringed dais.
In Doublet and Hose|Lucy Foster Madison

Word Origin and History for oriel

oriel

"large recessed window," mid-14c., from Old French oriol "hall, vestibule; oriel," of uncertain origin, perhaps from Medieval Latin oriolum "porch, gallery" (mid-13c.), perhaps from Vulgar Latin *auraeolum, dissimilated from aulaeolum, a diminutive of Latin aulaeum "curtain." Despite much research, the sense evolution remains obscure.

oriel

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of oriel

Examples from the Web for oriel

Word Origin and History for oriel

oriel