reredos

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A screen or decoration behind the altar in a church, usually depicting religious iconography or images, akin to the iconostasis of the Eastern Churches.
  2. The back of an open fire-hearth, in medieval halls and in some later architecture inspired by them.

Pronunciation

/ˈɹiə.dɒs/ /ˈɹiɹɪdɒs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-reredos.wav

Word forms

reredos reredoses raredos reredosse

Etymology

From Middle English reredos, from Anglo-Norman reredos, areredos; equivalent to rere (“rear”) + French dos (“back”).

Synonyms

This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.