dossal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / C2+Formal / Technical / Religious
Quick answer
What does “dossal” mean?
A decorated cloth or hanging placed behind an altar or at the back of a choir stall.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A decorated cloth or hanging placed behind an altar or at the back of a choir stall.
An ornamental cloth or curtain hung at the back of an altar; a decorative hanging or panel, especially in a religious or ceremonial context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both varieties, but 'dossal' is more common in historical or architectural texts. The term 'altar hanging' or 'altar cloth' is a more generic alternative. No significant usage differences exist.
Connotations
Connotes high church tradition, ecclesiastical art, and historical craftsmanship.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both dialects, limited to specialist fields.
Grammar
How to Use “dossal” in a Sentence
The [material/period] dossal behind the [altar/choir]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in art history, religious studies, and historical architecture texts. Example: 'The thesis analysed the iconography of the 15th-century dossal.'
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used by church architects, restorers, historians, and liturgical specialists. Example: 'Conservation work on the altar dossal revealed original pigments.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dossal”
- Incorrect: 'The priest stood before the dossal.' (The dossal is behind the altar; the priest stands before the altar).
- Misspelling as 'dossle', 'dossel', or 'dorsel'.
- Using it as a general term for any curtain.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare and specialised term used primarily in contexts related to church architecture, art history, and liturgy.
A dossal is a fabric hanging. A reredos is a permanent, often sculpted or painted, stone or wooden screen behind an altar.
No, its use is strongly tied to ecclesiastical settings. Using it for a curtain in a home or theatre would be incorrect and highly unusual.
In British English, it's /ˈdɒs(ə)l/ (DOS-uhl). In American English, it's /ˈdɑːsəl/ (DAH-suhl).
A decorated cloth or hanging placed behind an altar or at the back of a choir stall.
Dossal is usually formal / technical / religious in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “There are no idioms containing 'dossal'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A DOSSAL hangs at the back of an altar, like a decorative DOOR at the back (dossal sounds like dorsal, relating to the back).
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTH IS A SACRED SCREEN (it functions as a backdrop separating the holy from the mundane).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'dossal' most specifically?