friezes

Noun (1)

frieze (countable and uncountable, plural friezes)

1. A kind of coarse woollen cloth or stuff with a shaggy or tufted (friezed) nap on one side.
   • [I]f a plaine fellow well and cleanely apparelled, either in home-ſpun ruſſet or freeze (as the ſeaſon requires) with a five pouch at his girdle, happen to appeare in his ruſticall likenes: there is a Cozen ſaies one, At which word out flies the Taker, and thus giues the onſet vpon my olde...1608, [Thomas Dekker], “Of Barnards Law”, in The Belman of London. […], London: […] [Edward Allde and Nicholas Okes] for Nathaniel Butter, →OCLC, signature F, verso

Noun (2)

frieze (plural friezes)

1. The portion of an architectural entablature situated between the architrave and the cornice, consisting of a flat surface that may be continuous or articulated by triglyphs and is often decorated with sculptural figures and ornamental details.
2. (broadly) Any sculptured or richly ornamented band in a building or in rich pieces of furniture.
   • The narrative frieze, which was derived from the scenes on steles and seals, became the most important aspect of Assyrian art.1993, Funk & Wagnalls Corporation, Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia, volume 17, page 205
3. A banner with a series of pictures.
   • The classroom had an alphabet frieze that showed an animal for each letter.

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