Meaning
Especially in Gothic architecture: an ornament, often in the form of a bunch or knot of foliage, on the peak of the gable of a roof, a pediment, a pinnacle, etc.
Etymology
Origin: Middle English
From Late Middle English finial (“(adjective) final; (noun) ornament at the upper extremity of a pinnacle, spire, etc.”) [and other forms], a variant of final (“pertaining to the close or end of something, last, final”), from Old French final (“last, final; definitive”) (modern French final), from Latin fīnālis (“of or pertaining to the end of something, final; of or pertaining to boundaries”), from fīnis (“a border; an end”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“to split”) or *dʰeygʷ- (“to set up; to stick”)) + -ālis (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining’ to forming adjectives).
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 17 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-09-02FAILNPT
- 2026-07-21FABILNY
- 2026-04-16FANIGLT
- 2026-01-20AFTLINY
- 2025-07-24LANFBIY
- 2025-05-18FUANIGL
- 2025-04-27NAPIFLU
- 2025-04-19NAIEBFL
- 2025-01-21FPANIGL
- 2024-12-25FALGEIN
- 2024-04-02FATLINY
- 2024-03-20FANICLU
+5 earlier appearances in the archive.