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

This term was borrowed in the 16th century, reflecting the idea of a donkey as a supportive beast of burden, akin to how an easel supports a canvas for painting. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Also, this film has a vibrant aura of personal independence, like a painter at the easel, the audience is invited to witness the animator’s thought process, by peering through the artist’s own POV. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2024

For instance, Crayola's Color Wonder Activity kits are, well, a wonder, in keeping marker creations confined to the special craft paper (and off your sofa), while a double-sided storage easel keeps art supplies safely tucked away until inspiration strikes again. —Ashley Ziegler, Parents, 12 Oct. 2024

Woodbury's 1898 decision to plant his easel here permanently set in motion a cultural shift that would reverberate through American art for decades. —Paul Jebara, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024

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

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.