frieze
n. countablen. a long, flat strip of decoration on a wall or the top of a building. It often has pictures or patterns carved into it.
n. a long, narrow strip of decorative carving or painting, typically located between the base and the cornice of a building. Often features a continuous narrative or ornamental pattern.
The ancient temple has a beautiful frieze of dancing figures.
Architects often use a decorative frieze to add visual interest to the upper part of a building's exterior.
The Parthenon's inner frieze depicts the Panathenaic procession, a complex series of sculpted panels that illustrate the religious and civic life of classical Athens.
Late Middle English, from French and Middle French frise, probably from Medieval Latin Frisia (“Frisian (wool)”) due to import via Northern ships. Or, from French friser (“to curl”)..
From French and Middle French frise f, derived from an Upper Italian fris f, Medieval Latin frisum, frisium, frigium, frixum, frigium, of controversial origin, possibly from multiple sources, Arabic إِفْرِيز (ʔifrīz, “king beam, cornice”) and Latin opus Phrygium (“a kind of embroidery”, literally “work of Phrygia”), the demonym Frisian and terms related to the textile term above in a transferred sense.