dossal

or dos·sel

[ dos-uhl ]

noun

1. Also an ornamental hanging placed at the back of an altar or at the sides of the chancel.
2. Archaic. dosser ¹( def 2 ).

dossal

/ ˈdɒsəl /

noun

1. an ornamental hanging, placed at the back of an altar or at the sides of a chancel

Word History and Origins

Origin of dossal¹

1650–60; < Medieval Latin dossale, for Latin dorsale, neuter of dorsālis, equivalent to dors ( um ) back + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dossal¹

C17: from Medieval Latin dossāle, neuter of dossālis, variant of dorsālis dorsal

Example Sentences

Very beautiful, likewise, are the Maries that he made on the altar-dossal, lamenting the Dead Christ.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes a painting takes its place, or a dossal—a decorated curtain of as rich material as circumstances will allow.

From Project Gutenberg