cornice

  1. Noun.  (architecture) The topmost architectural element of a building, projecting forward from the main walls, originally used as a means of directing rainwater away from the building's walls.
  2. Noun.  A decorative element applied at the topmost part of the wall of a room, as with a crown moulding.
  3. Noun.  A decorative element at the topmost portion of certain pieces of furniture, as with a highboy.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.