mantel

Pluralmantels

Formsmantels

1. 1
   nouncountable

   The shelf above a fireplace, which may also serve as a structural support for the chimney's masonry.

   She lined the mantel with family photos and a pair of brass candlesticks.

   The mason replaced the cracked stone mantel that helped carry the brick chimney above it.

   Similarmantelpiece

   Note

   A spelling that split off from its twin: the word began as a variant of mantle, "cloak, robe", and the two have since parted by meaning. The fireplace shelf is spelled with -el and the cloak keeps -le, so photos and candlesticks sit on the mantel, while a mantle is something worn or, figuratively, taken up.

2. 2
   nouncountable

   In climbing, a move for getting up onto a ledge by pushing down on it to raise the body.

   The crux of the route is an awkward mantel onto a sloping ledge.

   She worked through a series of mantels to reach the top of the boulder.

   Note

   A climber's word borrowed from the fireplace: its longer name is mantelshelf, which shows where the image comes from, a ledge you get your hands on top of. The climber presses down on it until the body rises above, then gets a foot up and stands. Routes and boulders are often described by their mantels, awkward or easy.

3. 3
   verbtransitive or intransitive

   In climbing, to get up onto a ledge by pushing down on it to raise the body.

   From the crack, you mantel onto a narrow shelf and rest before the final wall.

   He manteled the ledge with a grunt and rolled onto his back.

   Note

   The verb keeps a single l in American spelling, manteling and manteled, and doubles it in British spelling, mantelling and mantelled. It takes onto for the ledge reached, or the ledge itself as a direct object, and names the same push-and-press move as the climbing noun: you mantel onto a shelf, or mantel the ledge.

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