Corbel - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

cor·bel

Audio Help [kawr-buh

l] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, -beled, -bel·ing or (especially British

) -belled, -bel·ling. Architecture

–noun

1.	any bracket, esp. one of brick or stone, usually of slight extent.

2.	a short horizontal timber supporting a girder.

–verb (used with object)

3.	to set (bricks, stones, etc.) so as to form a corbel or corbels (usually fol. by out).

4.	to support by means of a corbel or corbels.

[Origin: 1375–1425; late ME < MF < ML corvellus, equiv. to L corv(us) raven¹ + -ellus dim. suffix

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Corbel

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

cor·bel Audio Help   (kôr'bəl, -běl') Pronunciation Key
n.   A bracket of stone, wood, brick, or other building material, projecting from the face of a wall and generally used to support a cornice or arch.

tr.v.   cor·beled also cor·belled, cor·bel·ing also cor·bel·ling, cor·bels also cor·bels
To provide with or support by a corbel or corbels.

[Middle English, from Old French, diminutive of corp, raven (from the similarity of its shape to that of a raven's beak), from Latin corvus.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
corbel

1360, from O.Fr. dim. of corb, from L. corvus "raven;" so called from its beaked shape.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

corbel
noun
1.	(architecture) a triangular bracket of brick or stone (usually of slight extent)
verb
1.	furnish with a corbel

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Corbel

Brack"et\, n. [Cf.OF. braguette codpiece, F. brayette, Sp. bragueta, also a projecting mold in architecture; dim. fr.L. bracae breeches; cf. also, OF. bracon beam, prop, support; of unknown origin. Cf. Breeches.]

1. (Arch.) An architectural member, plain or ornamental, projecting from a wall or pier, to support weight falling outside of the same; also, a decorative feature seeming to discharge such an office.

Note: This is the more general word. See Brace, Cantalever, Console, Corbel, Strut.

2. (Engin. & Mech.) A piece or combination of pieces, usually triangular in general shape, projecting from, or fastened to, a wall, or other surface, to support heavy bodies or to strengthen angles.

3. (Naut.) A shot, crooked timber, resembling a knee, used as a support.

4. (Mil.) The cheek or side of an ordnance carriage.

5. (Print.) One of two characters [], used to inclose a reference, explanation, or note, or a part to be excluded from a sentence, to indicate an interpolation, to rectify a mistake, or to supply an omission, and for certain other purposes; -- called also crotchet.

6. A gas fixture or lamp holder projecting from the face of a wall, column, or the like.

Bracket light, a gas fixture or a lamp attached to a wall, column, etc.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Corbel

Cor"bell\ (k[^o]r"b[e^]l), n. [F. corbeille, fr. L. corbicula a little basket, dim. of corbis basket. Cf. Corbel, Corb, Corvette.]

1. (Arch.) A sculptured basket of flowers; a corbel. [Obs.]

2. pl. (Fort.) Small gabions. --Brande & C.

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