Obs.–1 [a. F. corbet:—Rom. type *corvetto, dim. of corvus raven, and so a synonym of OF. corbel, corbeau.] = CORBEL sb. 2.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 214. Ne how they hate yn masoneryes As corbetz [Caxton corbettis, Thynne corbettes] and ymageryes [Bodl. MS. corbettz full of ymageryes].
1617. Minsheu, Ductor, Corbell, Corbet, or Corbill in masonrie.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Corbel, Corbet, or Corbil.
¶ Erroneously explained in Dictionaries, etc., from misinterpreting the prec. passage in Chaucer; the error has been extended to CORBEL.
1616. Bullokar, Corbets, places in walles where Images stand. [So in Cockeram 1623, etc.].
1703. T. N., City & C. Purchaser, 117. Corbets, Holes left in the Walls of ancient Churches, &c. for Images to stand in.
1838. J. Britton, Dict. Arch., 98. Corbets, Corbetts, Corbettis, have all been used as synonymous with corbels; but corbets seem more particularly to signify niches for images: Chaucer uses corbettis in this sense.
