Pedestal

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ped=es=tal

CIDE DICTIONARY

Pedestal, n. [Sp. pedestal; cf. F. piédestal, It. piedestallo; fr. L. es, pedis, foot + OHG. stal standing place, station, place, akin to E. stall. See Foot, and Stall, and Footstall.].

•  The base or foot of a column, statue, vase, lamp, or the like; the part on which an upright work stands. It consists of three parts, the base, the die or dado, and the cornice or surbase molding. See Illust. of Column.  [1913 Webster]

  "Build him a pedestal, and say, “Stand there!”"  [1913 Webster]
•  A short free-standing column or column-like object designed to support a work of art or other object; a column serving the same function as the base of a statue. It may be made of wood, marble, or other suitable material.  [PJC]
•  A part of a desk which contains a frame and drawers, stands on the floor, and provides support for the desk surface. There may be zero, one, or two such pedestals in a desk.  [PJC]
•  A casting secured to the frame of a truck and forming a jaw for holding a journal box.  [1913 Webster]

Pedestal coil (steam Heating), a group of connected straight pipes arranged side by side and one above another, -- used in a radiator.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Pedestal, n. & v.
--n.
1 a base supporting a column or pillar.
2 the stone etc. base of a statue etc.
3 either of the two supports of a knee-hole desk or table, usu. containing drawers.
--v.tr. (pedestalled, pedestalling; US pedestaled, pedestaling) set or support on a pedestal.

Idiom

pedestal table a table with a single central support. put (or set) on a pedestal regard as highly admirable, important, etc.; venerate.

Etymology

F pi{eacute}destal f. It. piedestallo f. pi{egrave} foot f. L pes pedis + di of + stallo STALL(1)

THESAURUS

Pedestal

aggrandize, apotheosize, baluster, balustrade, banister, base, caryatid, colonnade, column, dado, deify, die, dignify, elevate, ennoble, exalt, foot, footstalk, foundation, glorify, honor, idolize, jack, magnify, mounting, newel-post, pedicel, peduncle, pier, pilaster, pile, piling, pillar, platform, plinth, pole, post, queen-post, raise, revere, shaft, socle, staff, stalk, stanchion, stand, standard, stem, subbase, sublime, substructure, support, surbase, trunk, upright, uproar, worship

ROGET THESAURUS

Pedestal

Support

N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.