easel
UK[ˈiːz(ə)l]US[ˈiːz(ə)l]
n
a wooden frame for holding an artist's work while it is being painted or drawn.
Etymology
the word 'easel' entered english in the late 16th century, borrowed from the dutch word 'ezel', which literally means 'donkey'. this metaphorical usage stems from the dutch term 'schildersezel', meaning 'painter's donkey', as the frame was seen as a beast of burden that carries the artist's canvas. the dutch 'ezel' itself derives from the latin 'asinus', meaning 'donkey'. the semantic shift from a pack animal to a supporting frame is a classic example of a functional metaphor, where the object's role in supporting and carrying a load is likened to the animal's traditional function.
Analysis
this word is a loanword adopted as a single unit into english. it does not contain separable morphemes based on its current english spelling.
Examples
the artist set up her easel by the river to paint the landscape.
the unfinished canvas was still clamped to the studio easel.
he bought a portable, lightweight easel for his outdoor painting trips.