Măn′tel, n.

(măn′tl), n. (Arch.) The work over a fire-place in front of the chimney, especially a narrow shelf, usually ornamented, above the fire-place;—called also mantel-piece, mantel-shelf, and mantel-tree.

The word is written, also, mantle, but the spelling mantel is the more common, and is to be preferred as serving to distinguish this word from mantle, a garment.