corbel table: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Architectural
Quick answer
What does “corbel table” mean?
A projecting horizontal row of stone or brick supported by a series of corbels (projecting brackets).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A projecting horizontal row of stone or brick supported by a series of corbels (projecting brackets).
A specific architectural feature in classical and medieval buildings, often found beneath a roof eaves, a parapet, or a projecting upper story, serving both structural and decorative purposes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. The term is identical and used with the same meaning in both architectural traditions.
Connotations
Evokes historical, especially medieval or Gothic, architecture. In both varieties, it is a highly specialised term.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Used with equal rarity in UK and US academic/technical architectural discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “corbel table” in a Sentence
The [NOUN] features a corbel table.A corbel table [VERB] the parapet.A corbel table of [MATERIAL].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “corbel table” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The corbel-table design is characteristic of the period.
American English
- The corbel-table design is characteristic of the period.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in art history, archaeology, and architectural history papers and lectures.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in architectural description, conservation reports, and heritage building surveys.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “corbel table”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “corbel table”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “corbel table”
- Misspelling as 'corble table' or 'corbel tablet'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They corbel tabled the wall').
- Confusing it with a single 'corbel' (the bracket) rather than the continuous row.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. Primarily structural, it supports weight above it (like a parapet), but it is often highly decorated.
A corbel is a single projecting bracket. A corbel table is a continuous series of such corbels supporting a horizontal course of masonry.
It is most commonly associated with Romanesque and Gothic architecture, though the principle is used in other styles.
Yes, while most common in stone, corbel tables can also be constructed from brick or wood.
A projecting horizontal row of stone or brick supported by a series of corbels (projecting brackets).
Corbel table is usually technical / architectural in register.
Corbel table: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔː.bəl ˌteɪ.bəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːr.bəl ˌteɪ.bəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a TABLE held up by a row of CORBel brackets. The table 'sticks out' from the wall.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARCHITECTURE IS TEXT (e.g., 'reading' the corbel table tells us about the building's history).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'corbel table' primarily?