prie-dieu

From French prie-Dieu, from prie (“pray”) + Dieu (“God”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɹiːˈdjəː/

prie-dieu (plural prie-dieus or prie-dieux)

1. A piece of furniture on which someone can pray, consisting of a cushioned area to kneel on, with a built-in ledge for books. [from 17th c.]
   • 1936, Djuna Barnes, Nightwood, Faber & Faber, published 2007, page 42:

     Leaning her childish face and full chin on the shelf of the prie-Dieu, her eyes fixed, she laughed, out of some hidden capacity, some lost subterranean humour [...].

   • 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance (Avignon Quintet), Faber & Faber, published 2004, page 772:

     thinking to improve his hour, he took to kneeling at a prie-dieu and ventured upon some propitiatory prayers to the Virgin which might serve as a sort of scaffolding to the more important confession which was to follow.

   • 1992, Hilary Mantel, A Place of Greater Safety, Harper Perennial, published 2007, page 87:

     At her prie-dieu, she read in a calm voice the prayers for the dying.