The Collaborative International Dictionary
Baldachin \Bal"da*chin\, n. [LL. baldachinus, baldechinus, a canopy of rich silk carried over the host; fr. Bagdad, It. Baldacco, a city in Turkish Asia from whence these rich silks came: cf. It. baldacchino. Cf. Baudekin.]
A rich brocade; baudekin. [Obs.]
(Arch.) A structure in form of a canopy, sometimes supported by columns, and sometimes suspended from the roof or projecting from the wall; generally placed over an altar; as, the baldachin in St. Peter's.
A portable canopy borne over shrines, etc., in procession. [1913 Webster] [Written also baldachino, baldaquin, etc.]
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context uncountable archaic English) A kind of embroidered material with gold thread-work. 2 A fine canopy of silk, erected over shrines, thrones, etc.
Usage examples of "baldaquin".
With the last gleam of reason left to him he understood that it was the enormous baldaquin over the bed which was coming down, while the curtains attached to it swayed softly, sinking gradually to the floor.
Professor may have taken it from Al-Madinah - perhaps from the mysterious inner passage of the baldaquin where the treasures of the place lie.
He built all around a little wooden baldaquin or shrine, and presently put devout persons to watch the place so that no indignity might be done.
Henri IV en Apollon, et un grand lit a baldaquin du dix-septieme siecle avec pentes, courtines et plafond en velours cisele de Genes.
A soft night light was burning below the huge, curtained baldaquin and the big, down-filled pillows were an irresistible invitation to sleep.
Pompili family shone all over the roof, doors, and panels of the house, and over the grand velvet baldaquins prepared to receive Popes and Emperors.
I was too ill, too feverish, but in my own way, stretched thin upon a consciousness of the moist hot bed and the sluggish air beneath the baldaquin, upon the blurred words of the boys and Bianca's sweet insistence, I did sleep.