easel

Meaning

An upright frame, typically on three legs, for displaying or supporting something, such as an artist's canvas.

Synonyms

support

bench

workbench

trestle

prop

tressle

stand

tripod

drawing bench

sawhorse

drawing desk

three-legged stand

sketchpad

Hyphenated as

ea‧sel

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈiː.z(ə)l/

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch ezel (“donkey; easel”), from Middle Dutch esel (“donkey”), from Proto-West Germanic *asil, from Latin asellus (“young ass or small donkey”), diminutive of asinus (“ass, donkey”), ultimately from an unknown source in Asia Minor. Essentially, the stand that a painting is placed on is being likened to a donkey carrying a burden; compare horse (“a frame with legs used to support something”), as in clotheshorse and sawhorse.