Nave is a term used to describe the central part of a church, stretching from the main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. It is the area where the congregation sits and is usually rectangular in shape and filled with rows of benches. The term "nave" comes from the Latin word "navis," meaning "ship," which was an early Christian symbol of the Church as a whole, with a possible connection to the "Ship of St. Peter" or the Ark of Noah. The nave is distinct from the area reserved for the choir and clergy. When a church contains side aisles, the strict definition of the term "nave" is restricted to the central aisle, but in a broader, more colloquial sense, the nave includes all areas available for the lay worshippers, including the side-aisles and transepts.