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caryatid

Pronunciation: /ˌkarɪˈatɪd/

Definition of caryatid

noun (plural caryatides /-diːz/ or caryatids)

Architecture

a stone carving of a draped female figure, used as a pillar to support the entablature of a Greek or Greek-style building.

Origin:

mid 16th century: via French and Italian from Latin caryatides, from Greek karuatides, plural of karuatis 'priestess of Artemis at Caryae', from Karuai (Caryae) in Laconia