Pl. ambos, also in L. form ambō·nēs. [a. late L. ambo (ambōn-em), ad. Gr. ἄμβων: see AMBON.] Special name of the pulpit or reading-desk in early Christian churches; ‘an oblong enclosure with steps usually at the two ends.’ Gwilt.
1641. Milton, Hist. Ref., I. Wks. 1847, 10/1. The admirers of antiquity have been beating their brains about their ambones.
1673. Cave, Prim. Chr., I. vi. 123. The Ambo or reading pew.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., In some churches remains of the Ambos are still seen.
1864. W. Grieve, in Vac. Tour., 427. In the centre is the ambo, marked sometimes only by a circle in the pavement, whilst at others it is platform of one, two, or three steps.
1881. Stanley, Chr. Inst., iii. 55. In England the huge reading-desk or ‘pew’ long supplied the place of the old ambo.
