spandril
9.9
A roughly triangular area between two arches and the wall above them
- noun
- /ˈspændrɪl/
- UK
:
esquina
- The architect designed beautiful mosaics to decorate the spandril between the two arches.
Examples
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Each spandril of the bridge showcased intricate carvings that highlighted its historical significance.
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To enhance the building's aesthetics, the designer added lighting to illuminate the spandril areas above the arches.
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The artist has misunderstood the fenestration of the dome, opening the spandrils and leaving closed the spaces beneath the arches.
Academic text (1995)
Synonyms
1
9.9
The triangular space between two arches and the wall above them
has identical meaning but is the alternate spelling used for the same part
Surface Forms
Etymology
Spandril comes from an old word that means 'to spread', the same idea you see in the English word expand. A spandril is the roughly triangular space 'between two arches and the wall above them', so the name helps you picture that small area being 'spread' out by the arches.