Cornice (noun)
kaw-nis
An ornamental moulding round the wall of a room just below the ceiling.
An overhanging mass of hardened snow at the edge of a mountain precipice.
Mid 16th century: from French corniche, from Italian cornice, perhaps from Latin cornix ‘crow’ (compare with corbel), but influenced by Greek korōnis ‘coping stone’.
Example sentences
“The ornamental cornice gave the room a grand feel.”
“The cornice confirmed the reports about the weather had been correct.”
Wonky (adj) won-kee Not straight or balanced, off kilter. First recorded in 1915–20; perhaps variant of dialectal wanky, equivalent to wank(le) ( Middle English wankel, Old English wancol. (more…)
