acroterion

noun

ac·​ro·​te·​ri·​on

ˌa-krə-ˈtir-ē-ˌän,

-ē-ən

variants or acroterium

ˌa-krə-ˈtir-ē-əm

or akroterion

ˌa-krə-ˈtir-ē-ˌän,

-ē-ən

or acroter or less commonly akroter

ˈa-krə-tər

plural acroteria or akroteria

ˌa-krə-ˈtir-ē-ə

or acroters also akroters

: a pedestal placed on a pediment to support a statue or other ornamentation

also : an ornament similarly placed (as on the prow of a galley)

Word History

Etymology

acroterion, akroterion from Greek akrōtērion, from akros topmost, extreme; akin to Greek akē point; acroterium from Latin, from Greek akrōtērion; acroter, akroter from French acrotère, from Latin acroterium

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

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