easel

noun

ea·​sel ˈē-zəl 

: a frame for supporting something (such as an artist's canvas)

Illustration of easel

Examples of easel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Guests have cards with the menu in French, with several large cards with the English version placed on easels around the room, according to journalists who received a preview of the dinner. —The Hill Staff, The Hill, 17 Sep. 2025

One that’s sure to be a hit for the holidays is this Fisher-Price activity table, which has four modes of play that grow with your child, including an art easel. —Katrina Cossey, Parents, 15 Sep. 2025

In the sweet video, Sugg and Buswell could be seen setting up an easel and starting to paint something. —Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025

In March, general manager George Paton put up an easel in his office with a large rendering of the facility. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 2 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Dutch ezel, literally, "donkey," going back to Middle Dutch esel, going back to Germanic *asil- (whence Old Saxon & Old High German esil "donkey," Old English esol, eosol, Gothic asilus), altered from Latin asinus — more at ass entry 1

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for easel

• weasel

Kids Definition

easel

noun

ea·​sel ˈē-zəl 

: a frame for supporting something (as an artist's canvas)

Etymology

from Dutch ezel "a frame to hold an artist's canvas," literally, "donkey"

Word Origin

An easel is a frame for holding up such things as an artist's painting or a chalkboard. In the 17th century the Dutch had become famous throughout Europe for their oil painting. Thus it was their word ezel, which they used to refer to this piece of equipment, that was borrowed into English around that time. This sense of ezel was an extension of the original meaning "donkey," probably because an easel, like a beast of burden, is used to hold things.