spandrel
pronunciation
How to pronounce spandrel in British English:
UK ['spændrəl]
How to pronounce spandrel in American English:
US ['spændrəl]
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- Noun:
- an approximately triangular surface area between two adjacent arches and the horizontal plane above them
Word Origin
- spandrel (n.)
- "triangular space between the outer curve of an arch and the molding enclosing it," late 15c., apparently a diminutive of Anglo-French spaundre (late 14c.), which is of uncertain origin, perhaps a shortening of Old French espandre "to expand, extend, spread," from Latin expandre (see expand).
Example
- 1. Indisputably , the application of open spandrel design makes the bridge more exquisite .
- 2. Music did not lead to language , language led to music in what has turned out to be a glorious accident-what stephen jay gould called a spandrel , by analogy with the functionless spaces between the arches of cathedrals that artists then fill with paintings .