a ledge projecting from the underside of the hinged seat of a choir stall in a church, on which the occupant can support himself or herself while standing
2. Christianity
a.
a relaxation of certain monastic rules for infirm or aged monks or nuns
b.
a monastery where such relaxations can be enjoyed
3.
a small medieval dagger used to give the death stroke to a wounded foe
Word origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin misericordia compassion, from miserēre to pity + cor heart