The Collaborative International Dictionary
Pier \Pier\, n. [OE. pere, OF. piere a stone, F. pierre, fr. L. petra, Gr. ?. Cf. Petrify.]
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(Arch.)
Any detached mass of masonry, whether insulated or supporting one side of an arch or lintel, as of a bridge; the piece of wall between two openings.
Any additional or auxiliary mass of masonry used to stiffen a wall. See Buttress.
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A projecting wharf or landing place.
Abutment pier, the pier of a bridge next the shore; a pier which by its strength and stability resists the thrust of an arch.
Pier glass, a mirror, of high and narrow shape, to be put up between windows.
Pier table, a table made to stand between windows.
Wiktionary
alt. A tall narrow mirror, usually set between two windows, above a pier table. n. A tall narrow mirror, usually set between two windows, above a pier table.
WordNet
n. a large mirror between two windows [syn: pier mirror]
Wikipedia
A pier glass or trumeau mirror is a mirror which is placed on a pier, i.e. a wall between two windows supporting an upper structure. It is therefore generally of a long and tall shape to fit the space. It may be as a hanging mirror or as mirrored glass affixed flush to the pier, in which case it is sometimes of the same shape and design as the windows themselves. This was a common decorating feature in the reception rooms of classical 18th-century houses.
Category:Mirrors Category:18th century
Usage examples of "pier glass".
Lincoln stood in front of the pier glass and tied his white cravat.
Lovell to Meg's bedside, I saw the vision of a romantic figure reflected in the pier glass of your room.
She was in a frenzy itement ten o'clock Noelle stood in front of the pier glass lie bedroom, and she knew that she had never as beautiful.
I said softly to myself, looking over my reflection in the large pier glass.
He sat by the fireside, now lit only by the silver moonlight pouring in through the window, watching cloud shadows make patterns on the pier glass.