Easel
late 16th century: from Dutch ezel ‘ass’. The word ‘horse’ is used in English in a similar way to denote a supporting frame.
wiktionary
Borrowed from Dutch ezel(“ donkey; easel”), from Middle Dutch esel(“donkey”), from Proto-West Germanic *asil, from Latin asellus(“ young ass or small donkey”), diminutive of asinus(“ass, donkey”), ultimately from an unknown source in Asia Minor. Essentially, the stand that a painting is placed on is being likened to a donkey carrying a burden; compare horse(“a frame with legs used to support something”), as in clotheshorse and sawhorse.
etymonline
easel (n.)
1590s, from Dutch ezel "easel," originally "ass," from Middle Dutch esel, from Latin asinus "ass" (see ass (n.1)); the comparison being of loading a burden on a donkey and propping up a painting or canvas on a wooden stand (compare sawhorse, French chevalet, Italian cavalletto).
