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nave

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nave

[neyv]
–noun
the principal longitudinal area of a church, extending from the main entrance or narthex to the chancel, usually flanked by aisles of less height and breadth: generally used only by the congregation.


Origin:
1665–75; < ML nāvis, L: ship; so called from the resemblance in shape
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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nave 1   (nāv)   
n.  The central part of a church, extending from the narthex to the chancel and flanked by aisles.

[Medieval Latin nāvis, from Latin, ship (from its shape); see nāu- in Indo-European roots.]
nave 2   (nāv)   
n.  The hub of a wheel.

[Middle English, from Old English nafu; see nobh- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

nave  (1)
"main part of a church," 1673, from Sp. or It. nave, from M.L. navem (nom. navis) "nave of a church," from L. navis "ship" (see naval), on some fancied resemblance in shape.

nave  (2)
"hub of a wheel," O.E. nafu, from P.Gmc. *nabo-, perhaps connected with the root of navel (q.v.) on notion of centrality (cf. L. umbilicus "navel," also "the end of a roller of a scroll," Gk. omphalos "navel," also "the boss of a shield").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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