wainscoting

Meaning

1. 1noununcountableAmerican

   Wooden panels, or a similar covering, fixed to the lower part of an interior wall for decoration or protection.

   Grammar: Usually no article: the hall has wainscoting.

   Patterns

   • install wainscoting
   • wainscoting on the wall

   They installed white wainscoting in the dining room.

   The wainscoting protects the walls from scuffs.

   Dark wainscoting gave the old library a cozy feel.

Common combinations

install wainscoting

We plan to install wainscoting in the hallway.

white wainscoting

White wainscoting brightened the small bathroom.

wainscoting panels

The wainscoting panels were cut to fit the wall.

wood wainscoting

Wood wainscoting is common in older houses.

painted wainscoting

Painted wainscoting is easy to wipe clean.

Synonyms and how they differ

paneling

Paneling is the broader term and can cover the whole wall, while wainscoting usually covers only the lower part.

wainscot

Wainscot is the singular or British form of the same word and is a very close match.

dado

A dado is the lower part of a wall, often with a rail on top, and is the usual British term for the effect.

wall cladding

Wall cladding is a broader building term for any outer layer on a wall.

Word family

wainscot noun

the same material, also used as a verb

wainscoted adjective

covered with wainscoting

panel noun

a flat piece of material set into a frame

Commonly confused: wainscoting or wainscot?

Practice

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