Standard Lemma guide

ashlar

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈæʃlə/
  • General-American: /ˈæʃlɚ/

1

noun

Meaning 1

Masonry employing flat and well-squared stone or brick, creating an appearance similar to wooden flooring.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: architecture

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Stone hewn and finished to create such masonry, either completely or as a facade over an earthen or rubble core.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: architecture

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A stone intended for hurling by means of a catapult or similar device.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, historical, uncountable

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a rectangular block of hewn stone used for building purposes

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: building block, stone

History

Etymology

From Middle English assheler, acheler, etc., from forms of Old French esselier (“wooden support, traverse beam”), from Medieval Latin ascelāris and assellāris (equivalent to a diminutive of early forms of ais (“plank”)), variant of *axillāris (attested only after the Renaissance), from Latin axilla (“little plank”) + -āris (“-ary: forming adjectives”), from axis (“axle, plank”) + -illa (“-ella: forming diminutives”).

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: carreuada — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • Dutch: blok natuursteen — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • Dutch: parement — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • Finnish: harkkokivimuuraus — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • French: pierre de taille — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • German: Quaderstein — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • German: Werkstein — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • Irish: eisléireacht — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • Italian: pietra da taglio — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • Italian: pietra squadrata — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • Italian: concio — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • Occitan: pèira de talha — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • Polish: licówka kamienna nieregularna — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • Polish: mur ciosowy — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • Russian: белый камень (belyj kamenʹ) — well-finished masonry creating an effect similar to well-done wooden flooring
  • Bulgarian: дя́лан ка́мък (djálan kámǎk) — well-finished stone intended for such work
  • Catalan: carreu — well-finished stone intended for such work
  • Chinese Mandarin: 方石 — well-finished stone intended for such work
  • Danish: kvadersten — well-finished stone intended for such work
  • Finnish: harkkokivi — well-finished stone intended for such work
  • Galician: perpiaño — well-finished stone intended for such work
  • Irish: eisléir — well-finished stone intended for such work
  • Portuguese: cantaria — well-finished stone intended for such work
  • Spanish: sillar — well-finished stone intended for such work
  • Swedish: kvadersten — well-finished stone intended for such work