Aisle

Aisle

is derived from the Latin ala, French aile, a wing, and signifies the wings or sidepassages of the church. The term is incorrectly applied to the middle avenue of a church, which its derivation shows to be wrong. Where there is but one aisle to a transept, it is always to the east. In churches on the continent of Europe the number of aisles is frequently two on either side of the nave and choir, and at Cologne there are even three. SEE CHURCH ARCHITECTURE.