Discussions about eggcorns and related topics
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Chris -- 2025-05-10
An oriel window is a type of bay window – often rounded – that’s generally situated high on the wall of a building. Given its size and placement, it might offer more opportunities for spotting those attractive yellow and black birds. But it might just be an attractive misspelling. Examples:
This type of window is popular above sinks, and is built outwards away from the wall in three dimensions. An absolute delight if you also have bird feeders or your kids playing in the garden to watch.
http://www.renovatorsplace.com/dsp_arti … cle_id=467
It is constructed of golden Northamptonshire sandstone and contains a very fine oriole window on the upper floor at the north end.
http://www.fawsleyhall.com/about/history.html
A view of the remains from outside and across the river. You can see the oriole window next to the round tower. (173kb)
http://www.greydragon.org/trips/Durham% … ndex4.html
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Malapropistic rather than eggcorny, this one, I’d say.
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Yeah—that’s why it was consigned to “Slips,etc.” But I like orioles and I like this.
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An obvious alternative to the oriel window is the aureole window, especially in a church, where haloes are part of the decor.
This brick building features a central tower with white steeple, a crenellated parapet in front of the gable end and a large aureole window above the main entrance.
Historic churches
Less obvious but nonetheless related, probably, are the real estate ads touting an “aerial” window, where the picture indicates an oriel.
Followed by a fourth bedroom suitable for a nursery or study with an aerial window to the front.
house for sale
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