easel

noun

ea·​sel ˈē-zəl 

: a frame for supporting something (such as an artist's canvas)

Illustration of easel

Examples of easel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Art teacher Alana Wood stood beside easels and art projects hanging on the walls and displayed on shelves. —Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025

Beechwood Easel $115 Amazon This gorgeous beechwood easel is easily adjustable and foldable for the artist who loves to switch up their environment or even travel with their art. —Alexandra Folino, Glamour, 12 Dec. 2024

In the corner, a light wood easel sits with artwork on display. —Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024

Check out some luxury gifts for artists, like a French beechwood easel or a Dolce & Gabbana notebook. —Alexandra Folino, Glamour, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Dutch ezel, literally, "donkey," going back to Middle Dutch esel, going back to Germanic *asil- (whence Old Saxon & Old High German esil "donkey," Old English esol, eosol, Gothic asilus), altered from Latin asinus — more at ass entry 1

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

easel

noun

ea·​sel ˈē-zəl 

: a frame for supporting something (as an artist's canvas)

Etymology

from Dutch ezel "a frame to hold an artist's canvas," literally, "donkey"

Word Origin

An easel is a frame for holding up such things as an artist's painting or a chalkboard. In the 17th century the Dutch had become famous throughout Europe for their oil painting. Thus it was their word ezel, which they used to refer to this piece of equipment, that was borrowed into English around that time. This sense of ezel was an extension of the original meaning "donkey," probably because an easel, like a beast of burden, is used to hold things.