# oriel

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɔːɹiəl/ · frequency rank #53,747

## Definitions
1. A large polygonal recess in a building, such as a bay window, forming a protrusion on the outer wall.
2. A small apartment next to a hall, used for dining.

## Etymology
From Middle English oriel, from Old French oriol (“gallery, corridor”), Late Latin oriolum (“portico, hall”), probably from Latin aureolus (“gilded”), applied to an apartment decorated with gilding. See oriole. Or a diminutive of Latin os (“mouth”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/oriel