spandrel

or span·dril

[ span-druh l ]
/ ˈspæn drəl /

noun

Architecture. an area between the extradoses of two adjoining arches, or between the extrados of an arch and a perpendicular through the extrados at the springing line.
(in a steel-framed building) a panellike area between the head of a window on one level and the sill of a window immediately above.
Philately. the decoration occupying the space at the corner of a stamp between the border and an oval or circular central design.

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Origin of spandrel

1470–80; earlier spaundrell, probably < Anglo-French spaundre, itself perhaps cognate with Old French espandre to expand

Words nearby spandrel

span., spanakopita, spancel, spandau, spandex, spandrel, spang, spangle, spangled glass, spanglish, spaniard
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for spandrel

British Dictionary definitions for spandrel

spandrel

spandril

/ (ˈspændrəl) /

noun architect

an approximately triangular surface bounded by the outer curve of an arch and the adjacent wall
the surface area between two adjacent arches and the horizontal cornice above them

Word Origin for spandrel

C15 spaundrell, from Anglo-French spaundre spandrel, from Old French spandre to spread, expand
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012