Pilaster
/pɪˈlæstər/noun
A rectangular column attached to or projecting from a wall.
Did you know?Pilaster comes from the same ancient root as *pillar* and ultimately traces back to the idea of a support that stands upright, not a mystical term—but a perfect example of architecture preserving old power-words.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
pilastrum
“a square or flattened pillar attached to a wall”
Late Latin / Medieval Latin
Latin
pilastrum
“a pilaster or engaged column”
Old French
Old French
pilastre
“a pilaster”
14th–15th Century
English
pilastre
“a pilaster”
Modern English
English
pilaster
“a rectangular column attached to a wall”