Easel
/ˈiːzəl/noun
A stand used by artists to support a canvas or board while painting.
Did you know?Easel is ultimately related to Dutch ezel, meaning “donkey,” because a support stand was likened to a pack animal carrying weight.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₃éḱwos
“Horse”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*asilaz
“Donkey”
Old Dutch / Middle Dutch
Dutch
ezel
“Donkey”
16th Century
Dutch / English
ezel / easel
“A painter’s stand, originally a support likened to a donkey carrying a load”
Modern English
English
easel
“A stand for supporting a canvas or drawing board”