Caryatide
/ˌkær.i.əˈtaɪd/noun
A sculpted female figure used as an architectural support, replacing a column or pillar.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Greek Karyatides, “women of Karyai,” and the famous story that they were temple maidens is a later legend, not the original etymology.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Καρυάτιδες (Karyátides)
“Women of Karyai; female figures associated with the town of Karyai in Laconia”
Classical Greek
Greek
καρυάτις (karyátis)
“A woman of Karyai; later, a female supporting figure in sculpture”
Latin
Latin
caryatides
“Caryatids; sculpted female architectural supports”
16th Century
French
caryatide
“An architectural figure of a woman used as a support”
Modern English
English
caryatide
“A sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support”