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Glite Dictionary
dossel

dossel

9.9
A decorative hanging of rich cloth behind a church altar
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : dossel
  • The ancient cathedral displayed a magnificent dossel of crimson velvet behind the altar.

Examples

  • The embroidered dossel added a sense of grandeur to the chancel area.

  • Restorers carefully preserved the faded dossel as part of the church's historical interior.

  • The church was adorned with a beautiful dossel behind the altar.

  • Many churches feature dossels made from luxurious fabrics.

  • The ancient cathedral displayed a magnificent dossel of crimson velvet behind the altar.

  • The embroidered dossel added a sense of grandeur to the chancel area.

  • Restorers carefully preserved the faded dossel as part of the church's historical interior.

Synonyms

dossal
vsdossel
  • Archaic
9.9

A decorative hanging of rich cloth placed behind an altar in a church

has identical meaning but is a variant spelling or form
reredos
vsdossel
  • Specialized
9.9

A decorated screen behind and above a church altar

is a fabric hanging rather than a fixed carved or painted screen
retable
vsdossel
  • Specialized
9.9

Decorated screen behind an altar that holds candles or religious art

is a fabric hanging not a structural piece made to hold items

How Ornate

reredos
  • Specialized
9.9
dossel
  • Archaic
9.9
canopy
64 4.1
hanging
8 2.1
cloth
215 1.0

Surface Forms

dossel singular
dossels plural

Etymology

The word dossel comes from the Latin root dors- meaning 'back', because it named the cloth placed at the back of the altar; that's why a dossel is the decorative hanging you see behind an altar.