Căt'a-făl'co, n.

n. [It. catafalco, scaffold, funeral canopy, Pr. cadafalc, Sp. cadafalso, cadahalso, cadalso, O. Fr. eschaffaut, N. Fr. échafaud, and catafalque, the latter from Ital.; from Pr. & O. Sp. catar, to see, to view, and It. falco, for palco, scaffold, stage.] A temporary structure of carpentry, decorated with paintings and sculpture representing a tomb, or cenotaph, and used in funeral solemnities. Gravill.