aedicula

noun

ae·​dic·​u·​la

ē-ˈdi-kyə-lə

variants or less commonly aedicule or edicule

ˈe-də-ˌkyül,

ˈē-

plural aediculae

ē-ˈdi-kyə-ˌlē

also aedicules or edicules

: a small structure used as a shrine : a niche for a statue

—usually used in plural

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin aedicula, diminutive of aedēs, aedis "temple, (in plural) abode, house"

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

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