cornice (n.) 1560s, "a molded projection which crowns the part to which it is affixed," from French corniche (16c.) or directly from Italian cornice "ornamental molding along a wall," perhaps from Latin coronis "curved line, flourish in writing," from Greek koronis "curved object". Perhaps influenced by (or even from) Latin cornicem, accusative of cornix "crow". Sense of "ornamental molding running round the walls of a room just below the ceiling" is from 1660s.