reredos

rere·dos

noun \ˈrer-ə-ˌdäs also ˈrir-ə-ˌdäs or ˈrir-ˌdäs\

Definition of REREDOS

: a usually ornamental wood or stone screen or partition wall behind an altar

Illustration of REREDOS

Origin of REREDOS

Middle English, from Anglo-French reredors, areredos, from arere behind + dos back, from Latin dorsum — more at arrear

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

Rhymes with REREDOS

albatross, coup de grâce, demitasse, dental floss, extrados, gravitas, intrados, isogloss, omphalos, semigloss, Thanatos, volte-face