a workshop or studio, especially of an artist, artisan, or designer.
Origin: 1830–40; < French: literally, pile of chips (hence, workshop); Old French astele chip (< Late Latin astella, diminutive of Latin astula, variant of assula splinter, equivalent to ass(is) plank + -ula-ule) + -ier-ier2
1840, from Fr., from O.Fr. astelier "(carpenter's) workshop, woodpile," from astele "piece of wood, a shaving, splinter," probably from L.L. hastella "a thin stick," dim. of hasta "spear, shaft."