frieze1
/friːz
/noun
1A broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration, especially on a wall near the ceiling: the horsemen of the Parthenon frieze figurative the coastline is a frieze of cliffs...
- The interior decoration was sumptuous with marble veneers, moulded stucco friezes, painted walls, and some remarkable mosaic floors, some of which survive.
- That these arches are triumphal is made clear by the frieze on the nearer of the two, which refers to Vespasian, whose joint triumph with Titus was well known from Josephus's account, discussed above.
- The Museum of Old Aix is a fabulous building in its own right, with elaborate painted wooden ceilings and friezes, and a small and mildly interesting display about local crafts and customs.
1.1A horizontal paper strip mounted on a wall to give an effect similar to that of a sculpted or painted frieze: a wallpaper frieze with chickens on it...
- The Dutch Room gained its new name in 1906 after a wallpaper frieze of blue Dutchmen was installed.
1.2 Architecture The part of an entablature between the architrave and the cornice.The entablature's architrave and frieze break out over each individual engaged column, emphasizing verticality, while the cornice breaks out over each pair to unify the pier-column unit....
- The windows of the top storey were concealed within the frieze of the main entablature whilst the heads of those on the first floor were dropped to suit the new storey heights.
- The cement entablature comprises four bas-relief friezes of two rows of Africans converging upon the beach, the Atlantic in front of them.
Origin
Mid 16th century: from French frise, from medieval Latin frisium, variant of frigium, from Latin Phrygium (opus) '(work) of Phrygia'.
Rhymes
frieze2
/friːz/noun [mass noun]
Heavy, coarse woollen cloth with a nap, usually on one side only.The judges, it was said, had a most difficult task selecting the prizewinners, such was the excellent quality of frieze, flannel, yarn and items of clothing on show.
Origin
Late Middle English: from French frise, from medieval Latin frisia, 'Frisian wool'.