abat-voix

noun

ˌäˌbävˈwä,

F ȧbȧvwȧ or -wä

plural abat-voix

-wäz,

F -wȧ or -wä

: a device for reflecting sound (such as the sounding board over a pulpit or rostrum)

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, literally, "(it) strikes down (abat) the voice (voix)," from abattre "to strike down" + voix "voice," going back to Old French vois

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

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