c. 1200, "short, loose, sleeveless cloak," variant of mantle (q.v.). Sense of "movable shelter for soldiers besieging a fort" is from 1520s. Meaning "timber or stone supporting masonry above a fireplace" first recorded 1510s, a shortened form of Middle English mantiltre "mantletree" (late 15c.).
权威例句
1. On the mantel were photographs of a man and a woman.
壁炉架上面是一对男女的一些照片。
2. Even the mantel above the fire glowed white.
甚至炉火上方的壁炉台都泛着白光。
3. In Britain they call a mantel a chimneypiece.
英国人把“mantel”(壁炉架)称为“chimneypiece”.
4. He had thrust his chest out, supporting his shoulders against the mantel.
他挺起胸脯, 肩膊抵着壁炉架.
5. She was tired and her mind ticked away dully, mechanically, as the clock on the mantel.