Glossary
architrave: ornamental moldings around doors, windows or other openings
archivolt: ornamental moldings on the face of an arch
artistic concrete: concrete blocks molded to imitate stone, inexpensive substitute using concrete since 1870
balustrade: Series of short pillars (lathe-turned, square posts or cutouts) supported on top by a handrail on staircases, balconies and porches
band: any flat horizontal course that projects slightly from a wall
bargeboard: ornamental board on a gable used to conceal the end rafters
bay window: a protruding space from the exterior wall. A bow window is a rounded bay.
belcast eaves: a curve in the slope of a roof ( ie. gambrel dormer of the Express Building)
brackets: supporting members found under eaves
capital: the upper portion of a column or pilaster upon which the entablature rests
casement windows: a window that opens from the outside vertical edge
casing: finished framework around a door or window
channels: groves cut or molded into columns for pilasters
colonette: a small, slender column that is usually decorative
colonnade: a series of regularly spaced columns
colossal column -column that spans more than one floor
conical roof: cone-shaped roof
console: “S” shaped bracket used to support a door or window hood or a cornice
coping: the uppermost course of a wall or parapet
corbeled arch: masonry course advancing inward over the top of a wall opening
corbiestep: a gable with stepped sides, used to mask a pitched roof
Corinthian order: classical fluted columns, slender with ornate capitals decorated with stylized leaves
corner boards: placed at the ends of exterior walls to protect the siding (ie. green on Burnett’s)
cornice: the top course of a wall when it serves as a crowning member. Along the slope of a gable or pediment, it is called a raking cornice. Maybe open or boxed in (closed).
crest: ornamental work forming the top of a wall used for decorative purposes (Hardware Store)
decorative half-timbering: non-structural timbers placed on brick or stucco walls
dentils: small square blocks found in a series on many cornices or moldings
Doric order: classical fluted columns with simple, plain capital and no base
dormer: vertical window projecting from the slope of a roof
eaves: the portion of the roof that projects beyond the roof
eclectic style: free mixture of details from any historic style, especially in late 19th century in the States
ell: extension at right angles to the main structure
elliptical arch: a three-centered arch
embrasure: a window or door with slanting sides inward
entablature: the part of building above the columns, contains the frieze and cornice
knee brace (strut): a diagonal support across the angle formed by two perpendicular members.
lancet arch or window: A long, narrow, pointed arch or window
lantern: A small, windowed structure on a roof for the purpose of admitting light
latticework: Interlaced, decorative strips of lath, iron or wood
lintel: A horizontal, wood, stone, or concrete structure that supports the load over an opening such as a window
louver: An opening, often of wood slates, used or ventilation
lunnette: A semi-circular window in the recessed part (tympanum) of a gable
mansard roof: A roof having two slopes on all sides, the lower is much steeper than the upper. Often includes dormer windows.
modillions: Ornamental blocks or brackets used to support the corona in the Corinthian orders
molding (moulding): A decorative band used to obscure the joints where two surfaces meet.
mullion: The central, vertical member of a door or bar between coupled windows or casement windows
muntin: Thin strips of wood used to hold panes of glass into a window
newel: The post supporting the handrails of a staircase
oriel window: A bay window located above the first floor, usually supported by brackets or corbels
ornamental plasterwork: Decorative carved or molded plasterwork
ornaments: Details added to a structure solely for decoration
Palladian window: A window with a central arch and two sidelights
parapet: A low wall or protective railing used along a roof or balcony
patera: A small, round or oval in a medallion as seen in door or window moldings, plain or richly decorated with leaves or flowers. (pl. paterae)
pediment: A triangular section framed by a horizontal molding at the base (frieze) with two raking (sloping) moldings. Used as a crown over doors, windows. May also be discontinuous or broken at the apex.
pilasters: A decorative, rectangular column attached to a wall, often so as to resemble a classical column.
plancier: The exposed underside of a projecting member (soffit)
porte-cochere: A covered entrance over a driveway
portico: A covered walk or porch supported by columns or pillars; a colonnaded porch or veranda
Portland cement: A hydraulic cement binder for concrete made of clay and limestone
pyramidal hipped roof: A pyramid-shaped roof with four, sloping sides that meet at a point
quarrel (quarry): Small, rectangular, diamond or triangular shaped panes of glass
Queen Anne sash: A window with many small geometrical shaped panes running along the edges
quoins: Alternating large and small stone, brick or wood used to decorate and accentuate the corners of a building
rail: Horizontal members of a door or window
raking molding: Molding that follows the slope of a gable or pediment
relieving arch: An arch embedded into a wall to relieve the section below it. It is often found over a lintel
roof covering: Includes; asbestos shingles, asphalt shingles, metal roofing or shingles, wood shakes, slate shingles, roofing tiles (fired clay or concrete)
rubblework: Masonry built of rubble or roughly quarried stones (rubble masonry)
rustic work: Includes uncut stones, decorative, rough woodwork, bark-sided trim, twig-work arranged in ornamental patterns portraying often thought of as a rural style
sawn wood ornament: Curves, scrolls, lace-work ornamentation made with a jig, band or scroll saw. Gingerbread, as it was called in the late 19th-early 20th century, can be seen on bargeboard, gable trim, over doors and windows.
shed roof: Roof consists of one inclined plane
side light: Usually a long, fixed sash found in pairs along side a window or door
sill: The framing that forms the lower side of a window or door. A lug sill extends beyond the width of a window, where a slip sill is only as wide as the window.
soffit: The exposed underside of an arch, cornice, balcony or beam
spandrel: The triangular space between the outside of an arch and the rectangular space surrounding it
spindlework: Lathed turned wood ornaments used in gable trim or porches and staircases
stickwork: Major framing timbers are placed on top of the exterior siding for structural or decorative purposes
stile: A vertical members of a door where the hinges and door lock are attached
tracery: The ornamental work decorating Gothic arched windows
transom window: The horizontal window pane(s) above a door
turret: A small, slender tower often located at the corner of a building or porch
tympanum: The recessed portion of a triangular pediment, often containing a lunette
volute: The scroll-like spiral dominating the top of an Ionic column
voussoir: A wedge-shaped stone or brick in an arch
water table: A projection of molding at the first-floor level that protects the foundation from water
wheel window: A round window with glazing bars radiating from the center
Sources Cited
Masterpiece Productions of the Adirondacks. http://www.masterpieces.com/arch3.html. Last accessed May 27, 2007.