Definition of catafalque
1 : an ornamental structure sometimes used in funerals for the lying in state of the body
2 : a pall-covered coffin-shaped structure used at requiem masses celebrated after burial
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Origin and Etymology of catafalque
Italian catafalco, from Vulgar Latin *catafalicum scaffold, from cata- + Latin fala siege tower
First Known Use: 1641
Other Christian Religious Terms
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See words that rhyme with catafalque Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catafalque
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