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
misericord in American English
(mɪˈzɛrɪˌkɔrd; also ˈmɪzərɪˌkɔrd) or misˈeriˌcorde (mɪˈzɛrɪˌkɔrd; also ˈmɪzərɪˌkɔrd)
noun
1.
a narrow ledge on the underside of a hinged seat, as in a choir stall, designed to supporta person standing at rest against the turned-up seat
2.
a dagger used in the Middle Ages for giving the death stroke (coup de grâce) to a wounded knight
Word origin
ME misericorde < OFr < L misericordia < misericors, merciful < base of misereri (see Miserere) + cor, heart