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

Look for better learning towers to be able to turn into art-center easels by adding whiteboards, chalkboards, erasers, magnets, nonspill paint cups and storage compartments for art supplies. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025

The couple also met with Rep. Buddy Carter, from their home congressional district in Georgia, who had Sam’s photograph enlarged and placed on an easel on the floor of the House of Representatives. —Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 30 July 2025

Painting sets often come in wooden boxes that can turn into a small, standing easel. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 June 2025

In that time, she’s watched people get married at the pond and seen artists set up their easels to paint the scene. —Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 26 June 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.