aedicula
noun
ae·dic·u·la
ē-ˈdi-kyə-lə
variants or less commonly aedicule or edicule
ˈe-də-ˌkyül,
ˈē-
plural aediculae
ē-ˈdi-kyə-ˌlē
also aedicules or edicules : a small structure used as a shrine : a niche for a statue —usually used in plural
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin aedicula, diminutive of aedēs, aedis "temple, (in plural) abode, house"
First Known Use
1672, in the meaning defined above