1. A rich fabric of silk and gold thread, originally from Baghdad.
Usage: archaic; historical
2. A canopy of rich fabric suspended or supported over an altar, throne, or ceremonial object.
Usage: architectural; religious

Examples

• The medieval church displayed a magnificent baldaquin above the high altar.
• Merchants traded in baldaquin, a luxurious fabric prized throughout Europe.
• The king sat beneath a baldaquin of crimson silk during the coronation ceremony.
• Renaissance cathedrals often featured ornate baldaquins adorned with gold leaf.
• The baldaquin protected the sacred relics from dust and weather.