An oriel is a type of window that projects outward from an upper floor of a building, supported by brackets or corbels rather than extending all the way to the ground. Picture a cozy reading nook jutting out from the side of a stone castle or Tudor house, with windows on three sides letting in light from multiple directions.

Oriels became popular in medieval European architecture, especially in England during the 1400s and 1500s. They served a practical purpose: in times when glass was expensive and rooms were dark, an oriel added extra window space and let in more natural light. The projecting design meant someone sitting in the oriel could see up and down the street without leaning out of a flat window.

You'll often spot oriels on older college buildings, historic homes, and churches. They create that distinctive look of windows bulging out from the building's face, sometimes decorated with carved stone or intricate woodwork. Oriel College at Oxford University takes its name from an oriel window that once graced its original building.

Unlike a bay window, which typically extends from the ground floor, an oriel hangs from above, making it feel almost like a small room suspended in the air.