oryall

Oriel O"ri*el, n. [OF. oriol gallery, corridor, LL. oriolum portico, hall, prob. fr. L. aureolus gilded, applied to an apartment decorated with gilding. See {Oriole}.] [Formerly written also {oriol}, {oryal}, {oryall}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A gallery for minstrels. [Obs.] --W. Hamper. [1913 Webster]

2. A small apartment next a hall, where certain persons were accustomed to dine; a sort of recess. [Obs.] --Cowell. [1913 Webster]

3. (Arch.) A bay window. See {Bay window}. [1913 Webster]

The beams that thro' the oriel shine Make prisms in every carven glass. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

Note: There is no generally admitted difference between a bay window and an oriel. In the United States the latter name is often applied to bay windows which are small, and either polygonal or round; also, to such as are corbeled out from the wall instead of resting on the ground. [1913 Webster]