Abat-voix

A wooden pulpit with an abat-voix raised overhead of it. Wakken, Dentergem Belgium

In religious art and architecture, an abat-voix (from French abat-voix, or sounding-board) is a sort of canopy which is placed above a pulpit and which serves the purpose of reflecting the preacher's voice toward the audience.

Etymology

Borrowing from French abat-voix, from French abattre (“to beat down”) + voix (“voice”).

See also

• Baldachin - canopy over altar or throne
• Chhatri
• Sounding board

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abat-voix.