reredos

noun

Etymology: From Middle English reredos, from Anglo-Norman reredos, areredos; equivalent to rere (“rear”) + French dos (“back”).

1. A screen or decoration behind the altar in a church, usually depicting religious iconography or images, akin to the iconostasis of the Eastern Churches.

   “Near-synonym: retable (often synonymous)”

   “A bad reredos will ruin the best church ever designed; and, although a good reredos cannot convert a bad church into a good one, it may do much to lessen the offensiveness of its badness.”

2. The back of an open fire-hearth, in medieval halls and in some later architecture inspired by them.