Aisle

Aisle refers to a passageway between rows of seats in a building such as a church, theater, or cinema, or between shelves in a store. It also denotes a corridor in vehicles like airplanes, trains, or ships that provides access to seating or compartments. The term originates from Old French aile, meaning wing, from Latin ala, meaning wing. The modern sense as a traffic passage emerged in medieval churches where side aisles ran beside the main nave.

In architecture, aisles are spaces that run parallel to the main body of a building and are usually separated from the nave or hall by columns or piers. In churches, the primary area is the nave; one or more aisles flank it, forming a nave-and-aisle plan.

In retail and warehouses, aisles are the pathways between shelves designed to allow customers to browse and carts or trolleys to pass. The width of aisles is governed by safety codes to facilitate emergency egress.

In transportation, aisles provide access to seats; aircraft cabins typically have a single central aisle; ships and trains may have one or more aisles depending on layout.

The phrase 'aisle seat' refers to a seat adjacent to an aisle, rather than the window or middle seat. The term 'aisle' is often confused with 'isle' which means an island.

Overall, aisles are functional architectural and logistical features that organize space for movement, access, and service.