Catafalque

3 definitions found

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

  Catafalque \Cat"a*falque`\, n. [F., fr. It. catafalco, scaffold,
     funeral canopy; of uncertain origin; cf. Sp. catafalso,
     cadahalso, cadalso, Pr. casafalc, OF. chafaut. Cf.
     {Scaffold}.]
     A temporary structure sometimes used in the funeral
     solemnities of eminent persons, for the public exhibition of


     the remains, or their conveyance to the place of burial.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  catafalque
       n : a decorated bier on which a coffin rests in state during a
           funeral

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  25 Moby Thesaurus words for "catafalque":
     balcony, dais, emplacement, estrade, floor, funeral car, gallery,
     hearse, heliport, hustings, landing, landing pad, landing stage,
     launching pad, platform, podium, pulpit, rostrum, soapbox, stage,
     step terrace, stump, terrace, tribunal, tribune