wainscoting

American  

[weyn-skoh-ting, -skot-ing, -skuh-ting] / ˈweɪn skoʊ tɪŋ, -skɒt ɪŋ, -skə tɪŋ /

especially British, wainscotting

noun

1. paneling or woodwork with which rooms, hallways, etc., are wainscoted.

2. wainscots collectively.

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Etymology

Origin of wainscoting

First recorded in 1570–80; wainscot + -ing ¹

Explanation

Wainscoting is the style of indoor wall covering that's made of wooden boards. It's not uncommon for rooms to have wainscoting on the lower half of their walls. Before the 18th century, wainscoting frequently covered the entire surface of a wall, paneling a dining room or library from floor to ceiling. Newer houses are more likely to have wainscoting only on the bottom part of a wall, if at all. The wall-covering material itself can also be called wainscoting or wainscot. The original wainscoting was made of oak, but softer wood is more common today.

Example Sentences

Other impressive features found in the space included original teak plank flooring, an original marble staircase, and original picture moldings and wainscoting.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

“Intruders have set fires, burning holes in the floors and scorching wood wainscoting and pews. Empty beef jerky bags, discarded underwear and clumps of plaster litter the worn burgundy carpeting.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

At lunchtime on a recent weekday, businesspeople in suits sat at white-tablecloth tables in the main dining room, where the walls are wrapped in cherry-wood wainscoting and heavy blue curtains frame the windows.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

In his own bathroom, Nickey limited himself to papering the top part of the wall, above the tiled wainscoting.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 28, 2024

The long hallway had narrow wainscoting halfway up to the high ceiling.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago