carrel
/ˈkɛɹəl/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 2.05 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Alternative spelling of carol (“a small closet or enclosure built against the inner side of a window of a monastery's cloister, to sit in for study”).
Obsolete
name
A surname.
Example Sentences
- "And in every wyndowe iij Pewes or Carrells, where every one of the old Monks had his carrell, severall by himselfe, that, when they had dyned, they dyd resorte to that place of Cloister and there studyed upon there books, every one in his carrell, all the after nonne, unto evensong tyme. […] All there pewes or carrells was all fynely wainscotted and verie close, all but the forepart which had carved wourke that gave light in at ther carrell doures of wainscott. And in every carrell was a deske to lye there bookes on."
- "Carol, or Carrel. A little pew, or closet, in a cloister, to sit and read in. They were common in greater monasteries, as Duram, Gloucester, Kirkham in Yorkshire, &c.; and had their name from the carols, or sentences inscribed on the walls about them, which often were couplets in rhyme. [Carola, Low Latin.]"
- "Near-synonym: cubicle (sometimes synonymous)"
- "He was busy writing his report in a small library carrel."
- "He then returned to his carrell for his own research."
- "Ah, the library. I booked like a madman for the Master’s Comp. Nine months, up in a study carrel on deck eight."
Etymology
A variant of carol (“small closet or enclosure”), from Middle English carole (“round dance with singing; group of people dancing and singing in a circle; circular thing; braid, chain (?); stall for study or writing; writing table; etc.”) (possibly referring to the fact that the item encloses or surrounds the person using it): see further at carol.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈkɛɹəl/
- British English: /ˈkæɹəl/