Ashlar
/ˈæʃ.lər/noun
A dressed stone, typically squared and finely cut for building.
Did you know?Ashlar ultimately comes from Arabic and passed through medieval French, showing how the language of precision stonework traveled across the Islamic and Christian worlds.
Etymological Timeline
Arabic
Arabic
al-ašlar / ašlar
“A term associated with squared stone or masonry in medieval borrowing traditions”
Medieval Latin
Latin
asselare / ashlare
“Borrowed or adapted masonry term used in technical building contexts”
Old French
Old French
aiseler / ashler
“A dressed or squared stone used in construction”
14th Century
English
ashlar
“A squared stone for building, especially in fine masonry”
Modern English
English
ashlar
“A dressed stone, typically squared and finely cut for building.”