104
GLOSSARY.
work is suspended, or between the back centre and the centre of the
collar of the puppet which supports the end of the mandril at the
chuck.
Axis of a Circle or sphere. Any line drawn through the centre and ter-
minated at the circumference on both sides. Of a cone, the line from the
vertex to the centre of the base. Of a cylinder, the line from the centre
of the one end to that of the other. In peritrochlo, a wheel and axle, one
of the five mechanical powers, or simple machines; contrived chiefly for
the raising of weights to a considerable height, as water from a well, etc.
Of rotation, of any solid, the line about which the body really revolves
when it is put in motion.
In every possible change of position of a rigid body relatively to a fixed
centre, there is a line traversing that centre whose direction is not
changed ; that is the axis of rotation.
Back. The side opposite to the face or breast of any piece of architec-
ture. In a recess on a quadrangular plane, the face is that surface which
has the two adjacent planes, called the sides, elbows, or gables. When
a piece of timber is fixed in a horizontal or in an inclined position, the
upper side is called the back, and the lower the breast. Thus the upper
side of the hand-rail of a staircase is properly called the back. The
same is to be understood with regard to the curved ribs of a ceiling and
the rafters of a roof, whose story edges are always called the back.
Back. When a piece of timber is placed in position, the upper side is
called the back and the lower the breast.
Baluster. A small column or pillar used in a balustrade. Balusters
are generally placed round the gallery in the stern and the quarter gal-
lery of large ships. (See pages 14, 46, 47, 84, 85; and Figs. 98-107).
Balustrade. A series or row of balusters, joined by a rail, serving for
a rest to the arms, or as a fence or enclosure to balconies, altars, stair-
cases, etc. Balustrades, when intended for use, or against windows, on
flights of steps, terraces, and the like, should not be more than three feet
six inches, nor less than three feet in height. When used for ornament,
as on the summit of a building, their height may be from two-thirds to
four-fifths of the entablature whereon they are employed; and this pro-
portion is to be taken exclusive of their zoccolo or plinth, so that from the
proper point of sight the whole balustrade may be exposed to view.
There are various species of balusters; if single bellied, the best way is
to divide the total height of the space allotted for the balustrade into
thirteen equal parts, the height of the baluster to be eight, of the base-
three, and of the cornice two of those parts; or divide the total height
into fourteen parts, making the baluster eight, the base four, and the
cornice two. If double-bellied, the height should be divided into four-
teen parts, two of which are to be given to the cornice, three to the base,
and the remainder to the baluster.
The distance between two balusters should not be more than half the
diameter of the baluster in its thickest part, nor less than one-third
of it; but on inclined planes the intervals should not be quite so
wide.
Band. A flat or square member or moulding, smaller than the facia.
Basement. The lower part of a building.
Base Mouldings. The mouldings immediately above the plinth of a
wull, pillar or pedestal.
S A R Y.
ISA 1. 1 STKKS.
I0 5
I'i-S. '.IS.
99.
lirj.
103. 104. 105. lOfi. 107.
Hearing 1 of a JH'CCCI of limber. -That part of a piece of timber which
is unsupported, or is between two or more props.
Hearing 1 . The lengtli between bearers or walls; thus, if a bearer rests
on walls twenty feet apart, the bearing is said to be twenty feet.
Hearing Wall, or partition. A wall which is built npon the soli.l,
and made to support another wall or partition, either in the name or a
transverse position. When the supported wall is built in the same di-
rection as the wall it supports, it is said to have a solid bearing, but
when built in a transverse direction, or uot supported through-nil n-
length, a false bearing.
Beak. A small fillet in the under edge of a projecting corni.v. m
tended to prevent the rain from passing between the cornice and n
Belfry. That part of a steeple in which the bells are hung.
1M\. Of the Corinthian and Composite Oniers. It is used to denol,- the
body of the e.ipilul by reason of its shape to an Inverted bell.
Boll-roof. -Somewhat similar in its curves to a bell.
licit. A course, of stones projecting from a brick or Rtone wall, u'l-n-
erally placed in a line with tho sills of the first tf'-or window, it is eilli.T
moulded fluted, plane or enriched will, patras at r.-gular inl.-rv.iU B
times eall.-d stone strni".
106 GLOSSARY.
Belvedere or Look out. A turret or lantern raised above the roof of
an observatory for the purpose of enjoying a fine prospect.
Benda. See Fascia.
|{<> v<>l. AQ instrument used by artificers, one leg whereof is frequently
curved according to the sweep of au arch or vault. It is movable upon
a pivot or centre so as to render it capable of being set at any angle.
The make and use of it are much the same as those of the common
square and mitre, except that those are fixed, the first at an augle of 90
and the second at an angle of 45; whereas the bevel being movable, it
may in some way supply in some measure the office of both; and yet
supply the deficiency of both, which is, indeed, its principal use, inasmuch
as it serves to set off or transfer angles either greater or less than
95 or 45 degrees.
Any angle that is not square is called a bevel angle, whether it be more
obtuse or more acute than a right angle, but if it be one-half as much as
a right angle, viz., 45, the workmen call it & mitre. They have also a term
half mitre, which is an angle one-quarter of a quadrant or square, that is,
an angle of 22 degrees.
Bevel angle. A term used by workmen to denote any angle besides
those of 90 or 45 degrees.
Billet moulding.-See Moulding.
Bond-timbers. Timbers placed in a horizontal direction in the walls of
a building in tiers, and in which the battens, laths, etc., are secured. In
rubble work, walls are better plugged for this purpose.
Bonds. This general term includes the whole of the timbers that are
disposed in a wall as bond-timbers, wall plates, lintels and templates.
Bridging-joists. Pieces of timber, or joists in naked flooring, extend-
ing in a direction parallel with the girder and supported by bearers
called binding joists which lie in a transverse direction.
Brackets in Gothic architecture are usually of very elegant design,
and are mostly sculptured to represent angels, heads, foliage, and many
other beautiful devices. They are used to support statues under niches,
pillars which have their bases at a height above the ground, and for
various other purposes.
Brackets for stairs are sometimes used under the ends of wooden
steps, next to the well-hole, by way of ornaments, for they have only the
appearance of support. Nicholson. (See Figs. 26, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112,
113, 114 and 115).
Fig. 108. Fig. 109. Fig. no.
GLOSSARY. 107
r
Fig. 111. Fig. 112. Fig. 113. Fig. 114.
Bracket-stairs. The same method must be observed, with regard to
taking the dimensions and laying down the plan and section, as in dog-
liug-stairs. In all stairs whatever, after having ascertained the number
of steps, take a rod the height of the story, from the surface of the
lower floor to the surface of the upper floor; divide the rod into as many
equal parts as there are to be risers; then if you have a level surface to
work upon below the stairs, try each one of the risers as you go on: this
will prevent any defect. (See Figs. 116 and 117).
Canting. The cutting away a part of an angular body at one of its
angles, that the section may form a parallelogram, whose edges are par-
allel from the intersection of the adjoining planes.
Carriage. The timber work which supports the steps of a wooden
stair. (See pages 43, 45, 54, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69 and 71).
Cased. A term which signifies that the outside of a building is faced
or covered with materials of a better quality.
Cavetto. A concave ornamental moulding, opposed in effect to the
ovolo the quadrant of a circle.
Chamfer. To channel or make indentures in stones, pillars, or other
ornamented parts of a building.
Chamfer. The arris of anything originally right angled, cut aslope,
or bevel, so that the plane it then forms is inclined less than a ri(j;ht
angle to the other planes with which it intersects. If it is not carried
the whole extent of the piece, it is returned, and then it is said to be stop
chamfered. (See page 47).
Chase Mortise. The mode of inserting or mortising inclined trans-
verse joists into parallel timbers in ceilings.
Close String. In dog-leg stairs, a stair-case without an open newel.
(See pages 46 and 47).
Cockle Stairs. -A winding staircase.
Common. -A line, angle surface, etc., which belongs equally to several
objects. Common centering is a centering without trusses, having a
beam at bottom. Common joists are the beams in naked flooring t
which the joists are fixed. Common rafters m a roof are thos
the laths are attached.
Cross-banded. A term applied to a veneer on a hand-roil, the grain of
which crosses that of the rail.
Cross-beam. -A large beam going from wall to wall, or a girder that
holds the side of the house together.
Curtail step. The first step by which a stair is ascended finiHlmiK :il
the end in "form of a scroll following the plan of the band-nuT.-
Nicholson.
io8
GLOSSARY.
Fig. 116.
Fig. 117.
GLOSSARY. 109
. A moulding with an undulating or waved profile, partly con-
vex and partly concave, called by workmen an ogee. When the hollow
part is uppermost, it is called a cy ma-recta; when the con vex partis above
a cyma-reversa; when it is the upper moulding of a cornice it is ralU-d
cymatinm.
Cylinder. A cylinder is a solid, described by geometricians as gener-
ated by the rotation of a rectangle about one of its sides, supposed to be
at rest; this quiescent side is called the axis of the cylinder, therefore the
base and top of the cylinder are equal or similar circles.
A prism is a solid, whose base and top are similar right line figures,
with sides formed in planes, and rising perpendicularly from the base to
the top.
The cylinder, so called by joiners, is a solid figure, compounded of the
two last-mentioned figures; its base is composed of a semicircle joined to
a rif/ht-angled parallelogram. This last compound figure is intended when-
ever the word cylinder occurs in the preceding work, unless the word
geometrical be prefixed. (See pages 14, 63 and 98).
Definitions ill Geometry. 1. A point is that which hath no parts, or
which hath no magnitude.
2. A line is length without breadth.
3. A superficies has length and breadth.
4. A solid is a figure of three dimensions, having length, breadth, ard
thickness. Hence surfaces are extremities of solids, and lines the ex-
tremities of surfaces, and points the extremities of lines.
If two lines will always coincide however applied, when any two points
in the one coincide with the two points in the other, the two lines are
called straight lines, or otherwise right lines.
A curve continually changes its direction between its extreme points,
or has no part straight.
Parallel lines are always at the same distance, and will never im-ct,
though ever so far produced. Oblique right lines change their distance,
and would meet, if produced.
One line is perpendicular to another when it inclines no more to one
side than another.
A straight line is a tangent to a circle when it touches the circle with-
out cutting, when both are produced.
An angle is the inclination of two lines towards one another in the sunn-
plane, meeting in a point.
Angles are either right, acute, or obtuse.
A right angle is that which is made by one line perpendicular to an-
other, or when the angles on each side are equal.
An acute angle is less than a right angle.
An obtuse angle is greater than a right angle.
A plane is a surface with which a straight line will everywlirn- i-t.in-
cide; and is otherwise called ft straight surface.
Plane figures, bounded by right lines, have names according to the
number of their sides, or of their angles, for they have as many sides as
angles: the least number is three.
An equilateral triangle is that whose three sides are equal.
An isosceles triangle has only two sides equal.
A scalene triangle has all sides unequal.
A right-angled triangle has only one right ftOgle.
Other triangles are oblique-angled, and are either obtMW OT MOta,
An acute-angled triangle has all its angles aruU-.
HO GLOSSARY.
An obtuse-angled triangle has one obtuse angle.
A figure of four sides, or angles, is called a quadrilateral or quad-
rangle.
A parallelogram is a quadrilr.teral, which has both pairs of its opposite
sides parallel, and takes the following particular names:
A rectangle is a parallelogram, having all its angles right ones.
A square is an equilateral rectangle, having all its sides equal, and nil
its angles right angles.
A rhombus s an equilateral parallelogram whose angles are oblique.
A rhomboid is an oblique-angled parallelogram, and its opposite sides
only are equal.
A trapezium is a quadrilateral, which has neither pair of its sides
parallel.
A trapezoid has only one of its sides parallel.
Plane figures having more than four sides, are in general called poly-
gons, and receive other particular names according to the number of their
sides or angles.
A pentagon is a polygon of five sides, a hexagon of six sides, a hep-
tagon seven, an octagon eight, an enueagou nine, a decagon ten, an uude-
cagon eleven, and a dodecagon twelve sides.
A regular polygon has all its sides and its angles equal; and if they are
not equal, the polygon is irregular.
An equilateral triangle is also a regular figure of three sides, and a square
is one of four; the former being called a trigon, and the latter a tetragon.
A circle is a plane figure, bounded by a curve line, called the circum-
ference, which is everywhere equidistant, from a certain point within,
called its centre.
TLe radius of a circle is a right line drawn from the centre to the cir-
cumference.
A diameter of a circle is a right line drawn through the centre, ter-
minating on both sides of the circumference.
An arc of a circle is any part of the circumference.
A chord is a right line joining the extremities of an arc.
A segment is any part of a circle bounded by an arc and its chord.
A semicircle is half a circle, or a segment cut off by the diameter.
A sector is any part of a circle bounded by an arc, and two radii drawn
to its extremities.
A quadrant, or quarter of a circle, is a sector having a quarter part
ot the circumference for its arc, and the two radii perpendicular to each
other.
The height or altitude of any figure is a perpendicular let fall from an
angle or its vertex to the opposite side, called the base.
The measure of any right-lined angle is an arc of any circle contained
between the two lines which form the angle, the angular point being the
A solid is said to be cut by a plane when it is divided into two parts,
ol which the common surface of separation is a plane, and this plane is
called a section.
Definitions of solids. A prism is a solid, the ends of which are similar
and equal parallel planes and the sides parallelograms.
PriSm ^ P er P endicalar to the sides, the prism is
rism are bli( l ue to the sides - the P^sm is called an
GLOSSARY. Ill
If the ends and sides are equal squares, the prism is called a cube.
If the base or ends are parallelograms, the solid is called a parallele-
piped.
If the bases and sides are rectangles, the prism is called a rectangular
prism.
If the ends are circles, the prism is called a cylinder.
If the ends or bases are ellipses, the prism is called a cylindroid.
A solid, standing upon any plane figure for its base, the sides of which
are plane triangles, meeting in one point, is called a pyramid.
The solid is denominated from its base, as a triangular pyramid is one
upon a triangular base, a square pyramid one upon a square base, etc.
If the base is a circle or an ellipsis, then the pyramid is called a cone.
If a solid be terminated by two dissimilar parallel planes as ends, and
the remaining surfaces joining the ends be also planes, the solid is called
a prismoid.
If a part of a pyramid next to the vertex be cut off by a plane parallel
to the base, the portion of the pyramid contained between the cutting
plane and the base is called the frustum of a pyramid.
A solid, the base of which is a rectangle, the four sides joining the
base plane surfaces, and two opposite ones meeting in a line parallel to
the base, is called a cuneus or wedge.
A solid terminated by a surface which is everywhere equally distant
from a certain point within it is called a sphere or globe.
If a sphere be cut by any two planes, the portion contained between
the planes is called a zone, and each of the parts contained by a plane
and the curved surface is called a segment.
If a semi-ellipsis, having an axis for its diameter, be revolved round
this axis until it come to tha place whence the motion began, the solid
formed by the circumvolution is called a spheroid.
If the spheroid be generated round the greater axis, the solid is called
a prolate spheroid.
If the solid be generated round the lesser axis, the solid is called an
oblate spheroid.
A solid of any of the above structures, hollow within, so as to contain
a solid of the same structure, is called a hollow solid.
These terms are frequently used in stair-building.
Dog-legged stairs. Such as are solid between the upper flights,
or those that have no well-hole; and the rail and balusters of both the
progressive and retrogressive flight, fall in the same vertical plane. The
steps are fixed to strings, newels, and carriages; and the ends of the
steps of the inferior kind terminate only on the side of the string.
Nicholson. (See pages 43 and 45).
Dove-tailing. -The method of fastening one piece of wood to another,
by projecting pins, cut in the form of dove-tails in one pioc-e, and let
into hollows of the same form in the other. Dove-tailing is either exposed
or concealed; concealed dove-tailing is of two kinds, lapped and mitered.
Draught, or Drawing.-Architectural composition or design, is nn-
derstoo.l to bo a necessary mode of conveying instructions to the practical
builder and the workmen, by exhibiting a comprehensive view of a pro-
jected building; drawings for this purpose must be executed with cleuv
ness and precision, conformable to a regular scale of proportions. 1 ! IAIJH,
elevations, and sections are to represent the internal features of the
apartments, halls, passages, and various arrangements
112 GLOSSARY.
convenience, and the external facades, porticos, domes, and other out-
ward appendages. Drawings of the sm;iller parts of an edifice will be
required numerous in proportion to their extent and variety of form.
Where the trades of a building differ considerably, elevations of each
of them will be required, and more than one general view of the pro-
jected building will be necessary to give satisfaction to the proprietor.
Ellipse. That curve called by workmen an oval.
Face Mould. The pattern for marking the plunk or board out of which
ornamental hand-railings for stairs and other works are cut.
Face Mould. In the preparation of the hand-rail of a stair, a mould for
drawing the proper figure on both sides of the plank; so that when cut by
a saw held at a certain inclination, the two surfaces of the rail piece will
be everywhere perpendicular to the plan, when laid in their intended
posi tioii. Nicholson.
Fascia. Aflat broad member in the entablature of columns or other
parts of buildings but of small projection. The architraves in some of
the orders, are composed of three bands or fascia; the Tuscan and the
Doric ought to have only one. Ornamental projections from the walls of
brick buildings over any of the windows, except the uppermost are called
fascia.
Feather-edged Boards, are narrow boards made thin at one edge, like
shingles or some kinds of olapboarding.
Fox-tail wedging, is a peculiar mode of mortising, in which the end
of the tenon is notched beyond the mortise and is split, and a wedge
inserted which being forcibly driven in, enlarges the tenon and renders
the joint firm and immovable.
Flight of stairs. In a staircase is the series of steps from one landing
place to another. Thus the same staircase between one floor and another
)nay consist f more than one flight of steps; the flight being reckoned
from one landing to another.
Floor. The pavement or boarded lower horizontal surface of an apart-
ment. It is constructed of earth, brick, Ktoue, wood, or other materials.
Carpenters include in the term the frame timber work on which the
boarding is laid, as well as the boards themselves. In carpentry, it de-
notes the timbers which support the boarding, called also naked flouring
and carcass flooring.
The term floor is, moreover, applied to the stories of a building, as
basement floor, ground floor, etc. When there is no sunk story, the ground
story becomes the basement floor, and the next floor the principal floor,
containing the principal rooms; in many country houses they are on the
ground floor, but in those of the town mostly on the one pair floor. The
expressions one pair, two pair, etc., imply a story above the first flight of
stairs from the ground, and so on.
Frame. The name given to the woodwork of windows, doors, etc.;
and in carpentry, to the timber works, supporting floors, roofs, etc.
Fnrring. The furring of those scantlings or laths upon the edges of
any number of timbers in a range, when such timbers are out of the sur-
face they were intended to form, either from their gravity or in couse-
ice ot an original deficiency of the timbers in their depth. Thus the
ibers ot a floor, though level at first, oftentimes require to be furred;
same operation is frequently necessary in the reparation of old roofs
GLOSSARY. 113
mid the same work is required sometimes in new as well as old floors.
Papworih.
Geometrical Stair. A flight of stairs, supported only by the wall at
one end of the steps.
Geometrical Elevation. A drawing of the front or side of a building,
the projection of a vertical plane of the front or aide of a building or
other object.
Ground-joists, are joists supporting the floor immediately above the
ground.
Ground floor. The lowest story of a building.
Half-space, or resting place. The interval between two flights of steps
in a staircase.
Hall. The first large apartment on entering a house. The public
room of a corporative body. A manor-house.
Hall. A name applied indifferently to the same large apartment on
entering a house, to the public room of a corporative body; a court of
justice or a manor-house.
Vitruvixis mentions three sorts of halls; the Tetrastyle, which has four
columns supporting the ceiling; the Corinthian, which has columns all
around, and is vaulted; and the Egyptian, which has a peristyle of
Corinthian columns, bearing a second order with a ceiling. These were
called ceci. In magnificent edifices, where the hall is larger and loftier
than ordinary, and is placed in the middle of the house, it is called a
saloon; and a royal apartment consists of a hall or chamber of guards, a
chamber, an antechamber, a cabinet chamber, and a gallery.
Halving. The junction of two pieces of timber, by inserting one into
the other.
Hand-rail, of a stair, a rail raised upon slender posts, called balusters,
intended to assist persons in ascending and descending, and to protect
them from falling down the well-hole. (See sections at Figs. 118, 119,
120, 121, 122 and 123).
Fig. 118.
Hnllow newel An opening in the middle of the staircase. The t-rm
Is used in contradistinction to solid newel, into which the ends of the steps
are built. In the hollow newel, or well-hole, the steps are only support, d
nt one end by the surrounding wall of the staircase, the ends next the
hollow being unsupported. Nicholson.
GLOSSARY.
Fig. 120.
Fig. 121.
. 122.
Fig. 123.
GLOSSARY. lie
Housing. The space excavated out of a body, for the insertion of
some part of the extremity of another, in order to fasten the two together: