ˈīl, ˈīəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by French aile wing, aisle) of earlier isle, alteration (influenced by isle “island”) of Middle English ile, alteration (influenced by Middle English ile isle, island) of ele, eile, from Middle French ele, aile wing, wing of a building, from Latin ala wing, armpit; akin to Old English eaxl shoulder, Old Norse öxl, Old High German ahsala, Latin axilla armpit — more at axis
1. : the side of a church nave separated by piers from the nave proper — see basilica illustration
2.
[influenced in meaning by alley ]
: a passage between sections of seats
3. : a long high narrow passage in a cave