aisle
UK[aɪl]US[aɪl]
n
a passage between rows of seats in a building such as a church or theatre, an aircraft, or a train.
n
a passage between shelves of goods in a supermarket or other shop.
Etymology
The word 'aisle' has a fascinating history of mistaken identity. It originated from the Old French 'ele', meaning "wing" (of a building) or "side passage," which itself came from Latin 'ala', meaning "wing." In the 15th century, its spelling was altered by confusion with the unrelated Middle English word 'isle' (from Latin 'insula', meaning "island") and the French word 'aile' ("wing"). This respelling cemented its modern form. The semantic evolution from "wing" to "side passage" and finally to the general "passageway between seats" reflects how architectural terms can broaden in application, with the core idea of a subsidiary, flanking space remaining central to its meaning.
Analysis
The word 'aisle' is a simplex form. Its spelling was influenced by unrelated French and Latin words, obscuring its direct morphological segmentation in modern English.
Examples
Would you prefer an aisle seat or a window seat?
The bride walked slowly down the church aisle.
You'll find the canned goods in the third aisle of the supermarket.