CARYATID


Meaning of CARYATID in English

[ ˌkarɪ'atɪd ]

■ noun ( plural ~es -di:z or ~s ) Architecture a pillar in the form of a draped female figure, supporting an entablature.

Origin

C16: via Fr. and Ital. from L. ~es , from Gk karuatides , plural of karuatis 'priestess of Artemis at Caryae', from Karuai (Caryae) in Laconia.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.