A historical term for a cupboard or recess in a wall, typically used for storing items in medieval or Tudor buildings.
Possibly from Roger Ascham, a Tudor scholar and writer, or from a Dutch origin. The etymology is uncertain, though the term appears in Tudor-era architectural descriptions.
Ascham might be named after the famous Tudor tutor Roger Ascham, but more likely it's a forgotten Dutch loan word—English architecture vocabulary is stuffed with architectural terms we don't know the true origins of.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.