reredos
Americannoun
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a screen or a decorated part of the wall behind an altar in a church.
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the back of a fireplace or of a medieval open hearth.
noun
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a screen or wall decoration at the back of an altar, in the form of a hanging, tapestry, painting, or piece of metalwork or sculpture
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another word for fireback
Etymology
Origin of reredos
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, alteration of Anglo-French areredos, equivalent to Middle French arere “behind” + dos “back” (from Latin dorsum ); see arrears
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.
To prepare for the abatement, all open surfaces in the church must be covered, including the pipe organ on the balcony and the high altar, or reredos, which holds the tabernacle.
From Washington Times ● May 13, 2018
Beside the high altar, in the shadow of its towering reredos, he was enthroned.
From Time Magazine Archive
With its glowing gold, blue, red & black mosaics, its multi-colored marble panels and the ancient ikons on the reredos above its elaborate stone altar, it was a far cry from Manhattan's John Street Church.
From Time Magazine Archive
"The great reredos at Winchester does not sing in greater ecstasy than the marble symphony which he has built in the chancel of St. Thomas's."
From Time Magazine Archive
On the top of the six uprights that form the vertical divisions of the reredos, angels stand with clasped hands.
From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Manchester A Short History and Description of the Church and of the Collegiate Buildings now known as Chetham's Hospital by Rev. Thomas Perkins
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