frieze.
1. Horizontal central band of a Classical entablature below the cornice and over the architrave, occasionally omitted in the Greek Ionic Order. It is a flat unornamented band in the Tuscan Order; it is broken up into metopes and triglyphs in the Doric Order; and is plain or enriched with sculptured reliefs in the Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite Orders. It can have a convex profile (i.e. be pulvinated), usually in variations of the Ionic and Composite orders.

2. Hypotrachelion of some Ionic Orders resembling a frieze under the capital.

3. Strip or band under the cornice of an internal wall over the picture-rail.

frieze¹ / frēz/ • n. a broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration, esp. on a wall near the ceiling. ∎  a horizontal paper strip mounted on a wall to give a similar effect. ∎  Archit. the part of an entablature between the architrave and the cornice.frieze² • n. heavy, coarse woolen cloth with a nap, usually on one side only.

frieze2 (archit.) member of entablature between architrave and cornice. XVI. — F. frise — medL. frisium, var. of frigium, for L. Phrygium (sc. opus) Phrygian work.

frieze1 coarse woollen cloth with a nap. XV. — F. frise — medL. *(lāna) frīsia Frisian wool.