SPANDRIL, or SPANDREL (formerly splaundrel, a word of unknown origin)  , in architecture, the space between any arch or curved brace and the level label, beams, &c., over the same . The spandrils over doorways in Perpendicular work are generally richly decorated . At Magdalen College, Oxford, is one which is perforated, and has a most beautiful effect . The spandril of doors is sometimes ornamented in the Decorated period; but seldom forms part of the composition of the doorway itself, being generally over the label .