corbel

1 of 2

noun

cor·​bel ˈkȯr-bəl 

: an architectural member that projects from within a wall and supports a weight

especially : one that is stepped upward and outward from a vertical surface

Illustration of corbel

corbel

2 of 2

verb

corbeled or corbelled; corbeling or corbelling

transitive verb

: to furnish with or make into a corbel

Examples of corbel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The highlight is the lobby Christmas tree, adorned with approximately 15,000 lights and 2,000 ornaments, which rises all the way up to the rich mahogany corbels of the elaborate coffered ceiling. —Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025

Think layers of molding on the mantel, picture molding on the chimney, decorative tile, maybe even some corbels. —Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025

My eyes looked up at a clock tower from the 15th century before tracing the intricate facades of the ancient churches and buildings with their iron balconies, decorative corbels and archways. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025

In the lower level lounge, there’s a calacatta stone bar on a base made from wood and corbels from a Spanish church; the ceiling above the bar is made of vintage tin panels from France. —Nancy Keates, WSJ, 1 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, "raven, architectural corbel," borrowed from Middle French (Anglo-French, "crow, raven"), going back to Old French, from corp "raven" (going back to Latin corvus) + -el, diminutive suffix (going back to Latin -ellus) — more at cornice entry 1

Note: Old French corp, corb for expected *corf (cf. cerf "deer," from Latin cervus) is difficult to explain; it has been speculated that the form was imported by Roman settlers from Etruria or another part of Italy where Latin -rv- regularly yields -rb- (cf. Tuscan corbo "raven" beside corvo; see Pierre Fouché, Phonétique historique du français, vol. 3, Paris, 1966, p. 798).

Verb

derivative of corbel entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1843, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for corbel

• warble