Definition of ceiling

The word "ceiling" has its roots in Old French, where it was spelled "cäel" or "celing". This term is derived from the Latin word "caelum", meaning "heaven" or "sky". In the 14th century, the Old French "cäel" referred to the physical vault or arched surface that covered a room or building, essentially meeting the sky. When the word "ceiling" was borrowed into Middle English, it retained its Latin roots but evolved to describe a literal or figurative limit or boundary, not just a physical structure. Today, the term "ceiling" encompasses various meanings, including a physical ceiling, a limit or restriction, or even the highest or most superior part of something. The word's etymology reveals how the concept of a physical ceiling has eternally been tied to the idea of the celestial realm, emphasizing the connection between the human-made and the divine.