reredos
A screen or decoration behind the altar in a church, usually depicting religious…A screen or decoration behind the altar in a church, usually depicting religious iconography or images, akin to the iconostasis of the Eastern Churches.
Meaning
2 sensesA screen or decoration behind the altar in a church, usually depicting religious iconography or images, akin to the iconostasis of the Eastern Churches.
Near-synonym: retable (often synonymous)
a painted or carved screen placed above and behind an altar or communion table
The back of an open fire-hearth, in medieval halls and in some later architecture inspired by them.
Origin
From Middle English reredos, from Anglo-Norman reredos, areredos; equivalent to rere (“reaFrom Middle English reredos, from Anglo-Norman reredos, areredos; equivalent to rere (“rear”) + French dos (“back”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: reredosesSynonyms
2 synonyms- a painted or carved screen placed above and behind an altar or communion table:altarpiece