spandrel

or span·dril

[span-druh l]

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.

Origin of spandrel

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for spandrel

Historical Examples of spandrel

The upper one is a spandrel piece from the traceried arcading of the stalls.
Wood-Carving
George Jack
For the arches and spandrel walls the gravel was passed over a 2-in.
Concrete Construction
Halbert P. Gillette
German clocks had this device of the cherub's head, but not in the spandrel.
Chats on Old Clocks
Arthur Hayden
Diversity prevails in the colours of field, spandrel, panel, and borders.
Oriental Rugs
Walter A. Hawley
"I'm afraid I don't know what a spandrel is," Christopher announced with appealing frankness.
Christopher and the Clockmakers
Sara Ware Bassett

British Dictionary definitions for spandrel

spandrel

spandril

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

Word Origin and History for spandrel

late 15c., "triangular space between the outer curves of an arch," apparently a diminutive of Anglo-French spaundre (late 14c.), perhaps a shortening of espandre "to expand, extend," from Latin expandre (see expand).