aisle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A passage between rows of seats or shelves, as in a theatre, plane, or shop.

   I'd prefer an aisle seat so I can stretch my legs.

2. 2
   noun

   The path along which a bride walks in a church, often used to refer to marriage.

   He watched her walk down the aisle on their wedding day.

Simplified etymology

Aisle came into late Middle English as ele or ile, from Old French ele and ultimately Latin ala, meaning “wing.” Its modern spelling arose in the 17th century through confusion with isle and was also influenced by Middle French aile, likewise meaning “wing.”

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).

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary