the.com/nave
the long central body of a church, named for a ship because faith sails somewhere
means The long central part of a church where the congregation sits, running from the entrance toward the altar.
from From Latin 'navis,' meaning ship — the same root behind 'navy' and 'navigate.' Medieval builders saw the high, ribbed vault of a church's central hall and were reminded of an upturned hull, the faithful gathered inside like passengers on a vessel. The image stuck, and the church's main body has carried a sailor's name ever since.
- latin root
- from navis, meaning ship
- naval cousin
- shares its origin with navy and navigate
- upturned hull
- medieval roofs mimic a ship's inverted bottom
- the standing room
- where commoners once stood, pews came centuries later
- acoustic trick
- its length lets sound soar toward the altar
santa maria — columbus's flagship that crossed the atlantic in 1492
hms victory — nelson's british warship flagship at trafalgar 1805, still in portsmouth
uss constitution — american frigate launched 1797, oldest commissioned warship still afloat