Corbel
/ˈkɔːr.bəl/noun
A bracket or projection from a wall that supports a beam, arch, or other structure.
Did you know?Corbel ultimately comes from a Latin word for a raven or crow, and the architectural term likely developed from the hooked, beak-like shape of the projecting stone.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
corvus
“raven, crow”
Late Latin
Latin
corbellus
“little raven; possibly a hooked object or beak-like projection”
Old French
Old French
corbel
“corbel; bracket; projection”
Middle English
English
corbel
“a projecting stone or bracket supporting a structure”
Modern English
English
corbel
“a bracket or projection from a wall that supports a beam, arch, or other structure”