oriel

noun /ˈɔːɹiəl/

1. A large polygonal recess in a building, such as a bay window, forming a protrusion on the outer wall.

   The middle window of the oriel before her, just caught and reflected back the crimson light and colour. The ground below looked bright and warm compared with the shade around.

2. A small apartment next to a hall, used for dining.

   obsolete

Where it comes from

From Middle English oriel, from Old French oriol (“gallery, corridor”), Late Latin oriolum (“portico, hall”), probably from Latin aureolus (“gilded”), applied to an apartment decorated with gilding. See oriole. Or a diminutive of Latin os (“mouth”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry oriel (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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