aisle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a long narrow passage, as in a cave or woods

   The bushes along the path formed a clear aisle.

2. 2
   noun

   A wing of a building, notably in a church separated from the nave proper by piers.

   Hester Earle and Violet Wayne were moving about the aisle with bundles of wheat-ears and streamers of ivy, for the harvest thanksgiving was shortly to be celebrated, while the vicar stood waiting for their directions on the chancel steps with a great handful of crimson gladioli.

3. 3
   noun

   A clear path/passage through rows of seating.

   But the design of the '730s' wasn't just about the seating formation. The Metro-style walkthrough interior was chosen because it is much more spacious than the '323s', where the interconnecting doors between carriages, narrow central aisle, and cramped areas by the passenger doors had been deemed particularly constraining.

4. 4
   noun

   Any path through an otherwise obstructed space.

   It is realised that the old Pullman standard sleeper, with its convertible "sections", each containing upper and lower berths, and with no greater privacy at night than the curtains drawn along both sides of a middle aisle, has had its day.

5. 5
   noun

   Seat in public transport, such as a plane, train or bus, that's beside the aisle.

   Do you want to seat window or aisle?

6. 6
   noun

   The path of a wedding procession in a church or other venue; (by extension, metonymic) marriage.

   You ask her if she loves you, she answers, "I do" / Your heart starts glowing inside / And then you will know she is just for you / While each step, draws you closer to the aisle

7. 7
   noun

   passageway between seating areas as in an auditorium or passenger vehicle or between areas of shelves of goods as in stores

8. 8
   noun

   part of a church divided laterally from the nave proper by rows of pillars or columns

Etymology

From Middle English ele, from Middle French aisle (“wing”) (Modern French aile), from Latin āla (whence English ala). Further from Latin axis (whence English axis, atelier). Via Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs- cognate with English axle, Ancient Greek ἄξων (áxōn) (whence English axo-, axon).