reredos

noun /ˈɹiə.dɒs/

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.

   Near-synonym: retable (often synonymous)

2. The back of an open fire-hearth, in medieval halls and in some later architecture inspired by them.

Where it comes from

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

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

← rerebraceresaca →

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