abat-voix
noun
ˌäˌbävˈwä,
F ȧbȧvwȧ or -wä
plural abat-voix
-wäz,
F -wȧ or -wä
: a device for reflecting sound (such as the sounding board over a pulpit or rostrum)
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from French, literally, "(it) strikes down (abat) the voice (voix)," from abattre "to strike down" + voix "voice," going back to Old French vois
First Known Use
1872, in the meaning defined above