cornice

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkɔːnɪs/

noun

  • 1an ornamental moulding round the wall of a room just below the ceiling.
  • a horizontal moulded projection crowning a building or structure, especially the uppermost member of the entablature of an order, surmounting the frieze.
  • 2an overhanging mass of hardened snow at the edge of a mountain precipice.

Derivatives

corniced

adjective

cornicing

noun

Origin:

mid 16th century: from French corniche, from Italian cornice, perhaps from Latin cornix 'crow' (compare with corbel), but influenced by Greek korōnis 'coping stone'