cornice

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a horizontal moulded projection that crowns a building, wall, or classical entablature

   Carved leaves decorated the stone cornice above the columns.

2. 2
   noun

   a decorative moulding where an interior wall meets the ceiling

   The restorers repaired the plaster cornice around the drawing room.

3. 3
   noun

   an overhanging mass of wind-packed snow along a ridge or mountain crest

   The climbers stayed well back from the fragile snow cornice.

Via French corniche from Italian cornice, 'ledge, frame, architectural moulding.' Its deeper origin is disputed: proposals connect it either with Latin cornix, 'crow,' perhaps through a beaklike projection, or with Greek korōnis, 'curved object or flourish.' The snow sense arose by resemblance to an architectural overhang.

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