Baldachin

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Baldachin \Bal"da*chin\, n. [LL. baldachinus, baldechinus, a
     canopy of rich silk carried over the host; fr. Bagdad, It.
     Baldacco, a city in Turkish Asia from whence these rich silks
     came: cf. It. baldacchino. Cf. {Baudekin}.]
     1. A rich brocade; baudekin. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. (Arch.) A structure in form of a canopy, sometimes
        supported by columns, and sometimes suspended from the
        roof or projecting from the wall; generally placed over an
        altar; as, the baldachin in St. Peter's.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. A portable canopy borne over shrines, etc., in procession.
        [1913 Webster] [Written also {baldachino}, {baldaquin},
        etc.]
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  baldachin
       n : ornamented canopy supported by columns or suspended from a
           roof or projected from a wall (as over an altar)