subcanopyn.
/ˌsʌbˈkanəpi/, U.S. /ˌsəbˈkænəpi/ 1. Architecture. A canopy (canopy n. 3) situated under another, larger canopy; a subsidiary canopy.
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1847 Artizan May 105/2 A vast Gothic canopy, distributed into three portions; under the centre is the Queen's chair of state, and a smaller chair is placed on each side beneath the sub canopies.
1877 Yorks. Archaeol. & Topographical Jrnl. 4 264 Below, standing in recesses below sub-canopies,..two old men, bearded, in white.
1902 Trans. Bristol & Gloucs. Archaeol. Soc. 25 52 It is possible that the sub-canopy of Isabel's chapel sustained a keeling figure of wood of Richard Beauchamp.
1981 Inventory Hist. Monuments York (Royal Comm. Hist. Monuments) V. 3/2 [There] are pinnacled canopies... The Passion scenes, each under a sub-canopy, represent..Nailing to the Cross;..Crucifixion [etc.].
2. A canopy of foliage occurring underneath the uppermost canopy of a woodland or forest, typically consisting of large shrubs or small trees. Frequently attributive.
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1924 Jrnl. Ecol. 12 182 Scrub forms a sub-canopy under ash.
1967 Bird-banding 38 117 Branches of subcanopy trees or shrubs which might interfere with the net can..be trimmed.
1988 Jrnl. Trop. Ecol. 4 312 If the existing mangroves do not or cannot regenerate in this forest type, one would hardly expect to find any other subcanopy species.
2004 N. H. Robinson Planting Design Handbk. (ed. 2) viii. 132 In the oak woodland the sub-canopy would include species such as field maple.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1847