CORBEL

corbel. Corbel, n. representation of a basket in building

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Cor″bel (kôr″bĕl), n. [[F. corbeau, for older corbel, dim. of L. corbis basket. (Corbels were often in the form of a basket.) See Corbeil.]] (Arch.) A bracket supporting a superincumbent object, or receiving the spring of an arch. Corbels were employed largely in Gothic architecture. ☞ A common form of corbel consists of courses of stones or bricks, each projecting slightly beyond the next below it.