antependium

noun

an·​te·​pen·​di·​um ˌan-ti-ˈpen-dē-əm 

plural antependiums or antependia ˌan-ti-ˈpen-dē-ə 

: a hanging for the front of an altar, pulpit, or lectern

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Latin ante- + pendēre to hang — more at pendant

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above