decani
/dɪˈkeɪnʌɪ
/noun
The section of a church or cathedral choir conventionally placed on the south side and taking the first or higher part in antiphonal singing. The opposite of cantoris.The cathedral precentor sits opposite the dean - whence the name for the two sides of the choir: decani and cantoris (‘of the singer’, i.e. the precentor)....
- The post-Reformation choir was usually split into two antiphonal groups: cantoris on the precentor's side and decani opposite on the dean's side.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from Latin, literally 'of the dean' (see dean1).