Final answer:
The central part of a church referred to as the 'nave' comes from Latin, signifying the shape reminiscent of a ship's hull. It's a crucial element of the basilica-style architecture in churches, contributing to the cruciform layout when intersected by the transept.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central part of a church, which comes from the Latin word for 'ship' due to its shape, is called the nave. The term originates from the Latin word 'navis', a reflection on how the rafters of a church's ceiling resembles the inverted hull of a ship. This important architectural feature is part of what gives many churches their characteristic longitudinal plan, culminating at the altar, distinctly different from the central plan found in classical pagan temples. The basilica style, utilized in many churches, includes a central aisle or nave, with additional aisles on each side separated by colonnades, and often ends with an apse forming a longitudinal axis. This layout contributes to the cruciform shape of the building when a transept is added, running perpendicular to the nave and crossing it at a right angle to form the arms of the cross.