[F. chevet pillow, ‘eastern extremity of a church, especially considered externally.’ In the latter sense, French formerly used chevès:—L. capitium, f. caput- head. (See Littré.)]
The French name of the apsidal termination (semicircular or semipolygonal) of the east end of a church; particularly applied to that of French Gothic churches, where it is sometimes surrounded by apsidal chapels.
1809. Whittington, Eccl. Antiq. France, II. iii. (1811), 132. Rebuild the upper end of the church, which is called the Chevet, or round point.
1861. Sat. Rev., 30 Nov., 568. The choir, chevet, and transepts of the Abbey church [of Westminster] … belong to the great rebuilding undertaken by Henry III.
1861. Beresf. Hope, Eng. Cathedr. 19th C., iii. 92. We have a further reason … for the adoption in our cathedrals of the chevet.
1888. Loftie, Tower of Lond., 36.
