Plural of architrave; the lowest molded sections that form frames around doorways, windows, or sit directly atop columns in classical buildings.
From Italian 'architrave,' plural form 'architravi,' combining 'archi-' (chief) and 'trave' (beam). The word entered English through architectural terminology in the Renaissance as classical design was revived.
When you walk through old buildings and notice the fancy molded frame around a doorway that's different from the wall around it—that's the architrave, and it's not just decoration; it's actually hiding the joint where the door frame meets the wall.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.