one of a set of small square or rectangular blocks evenly spaced to form an ornamental row, usually under a classical cornice on a building, piece of furniture, etc
Word origin
C17: from French, from obsolete dentille a little tooth, from dent tooth
dentil in American English
(ˈdɛntɪl)
noun
Architecture
any of a series of small rectangular blocks projecting like teeth, as from under a cornice