aisle

[ ahyl ]

noun

1. a walkway between or along blocks or rows of seats in a theater, classroom, airplane, etc.:

   We were glad to get seats next to the aisle for that flight.

2. Architecture.
   1. a longitudinal division of an interior area, such as in a church, separated from the main area by an arcade or the like.
   2. any of the longitudinal divisions of a church or similarly shaped building.
3. the aisle, the divide or division between two political factions or parties:

   The Democrat reached across the aisle to form a bipartisan coalition.

   Her proposal was criticized by folks on both sides of the aisle.

aisle

/ aɪl /

noun

1. a passageway separating seating areas in a theatre, church, etc; gangway
2. a lateral division in a church flanking the nave or chancel
3. rolling in the aisles informal.
   (of an audience) overcome with laughter

Derived Forms

• ˈaisleless, adjective
• aisled, adjective

Other Words From

• aisled adjective
• un·aisled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aisle¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, and in 1880–85 aisle fordef 3; alteration (with ai from French aile “wing”) of earlier ile, isle (with s from isle ), from Middle French, from Latin āla “wing,” cognate with axle; ala; sense of aisle def 3 derives from the central aisle dividing Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and in other legislative chambers

Word History and Origins

Origin of aisle¹

C14 ele (later aile, aisle, through confusion with isle (island)), via Old French from Latin āla wing

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. walk / go down the aisle, to get married:

   Fewer couples are walking down the aisle these days.

2. in the aisles. rolling ( def 10 ).

Example Sentences

She used the arrangements to line the aisle during the actual wedding and then decorate the table during the reception dinner that night.

From Los Angeles Times

Men are buying more from Lidl’s middle aisle, its UK boss has said as the supermarket returned to profit after a loss-making year.

From BBC

California voters are heavily Democratic and a high minimum wage generally aligns with left-wing values, but voters on both sides of the aisle didn’t adhere to typical party-line trends when it came to Proposition 32.

From Los Angeles Times

McCoy, like pastors on both sides of the political aisle, openly flouts the Johnson Amendment, a 1954 law that bars tax-exempt organizations from participating in political campaigns and endorsing candidates.

From Los Angeles Times

Her protest last month drew immediate ire from across the political aisle, as well as from some prominent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders.

From BBC

Related Words

• avenue
• corridor
• hallway
• lane
• path