In*ter"stice (?; 277), n.; pl. Interstices (#). [L. interstitium a pause, interval; inter between + sistere to set, fr. stare to stand: cf. F. interstice. See Stand.]

1. That which intervenes between one thing and another; especially, a space between things closely set, or between the parts which compose a body; a narrow chink; a crack; a crevice; a hole; an interval; as, the interstices of a wall.

2. An interval of time; specifically (R. C. Ch.), in the plural, the intervals which the canon law requires between the reception of the various degrees of orders.

Nonobservance of the interstices . . . is a sin.

• (noun form very rare): a small opening or space between objects, especially adjacent objects or objects set closely together, as between cords in a rope or cable or between atoms in a crystal.
       Quotation
       *1999 That he ran the risk of blowing out the stained-glass windows was of no consequence since no one liked them anyway, and the paper mill fumes were gnawing at the interstitial lead. - Neal Stephenson, Cryptonomicon.
  
• an interval of time required by the Roman Catholic Church between the attainment of different degrees of an order.