Definition of the word frieze

The word "frieze" comes from the Middle English word "frysee," which in turn originated from the Old Norse word "frýsa" meaning "to carve." This word was brought over to England by the Viking invaders in the 9th century. The original meaning of the term was related to carved decorative work, specifically the ornate horizontal bands found at the top of medieval churches' walls, which served as a dividing line between the building's main space and its roofline. By the early 16th century, the term "frieze" had broadened to include any decorative horizontal band, whether carved or plain, that served as a decorative element around a room or building. Today, "frieze" refers specifically to such a decorative horizontal component, typically found above a baseboard and below a crown molding in interior spaces.