Glossary of Architectural Terms
The diagram to the right shows a section through a typical Gothic cathedral, with labels of various key elements of the structure. Other key definitions are explained below.
Key Definitions
Abutment: the support which takes the thrust and weight of an arch or vault
Apse: the circular or angular projection of the church sanctuary
Bay: one main compartment of vaulting
Buttress: any considerable projection from the face of a wall, built to resist overturning
Centring: a temporary construction of timber used to hold up masonry or brick during the process of erection
Choir: the area for clergy and choir, separated by a screen from the main body of the church, presbytery, or chancel
Clerestory: an upper stage in a building, projecting above adjacent roofs; particularly in a church, the projection of nave above aisle
Cloister: covered passages about an open court used for circulation in abbey or church property
Conoid: having the form of a cone, particularly in vaulting
Cross Vault: the shell form created by the intersection of two cylinders
Deformation: the change in shape of a structure under stress
Diagonal Rib: the rib at a folded edge of a cross vault, cutting diagonally across a bay of vaulting
Domical Cross Vault: an intersecting cross vault in which the crown is raised so that the shape approximates to a dome
Elastic Deformation: reversible change of shape under stress
Elevation: the drawing of the front or face of a building; vertical plane projection
Fan Vault: in English Gothic, an inverted conoid shell in which the regular ribs are purely decorative
Flying Rib: a rib in vaulting, free of the masonry shell
Flying Buttress: an exposed arch ring which carries the thrust of the vaulting over the aisle roof to an external buttressing pier
Groin: the intersecting edge of two vaulting surfaces; a folded surface
Haunch: the portion of an arch or vault immediately above the springing
Lierne Rib: secondary rib which links diagonals, tiercerons, and ridge ribs to create stellar or mesh patterns
Lime Mortar: the mixture of sand and lime (calcium carbonate) used to bind together the stone or brick of masonry construction
Nave: the major public area of a church
Pendant: a decorative projection hung from an arch or vault
Pier: a mass of masonry, as distinct from a column
Presbytery: the sanctuary or choir, reserved for the clergy, at the eastern end of the church
Quadripartite Vault: the simplest form of cross vaulting in which two transverse arches, two diagonal ribs, and two wall ribs divide the vault into four compartments
Ridge Rib: the horizontal rib at the crown of the vault
Section: the representation of a vertical plane cut through the structure of a building
Sexpartite Vault: a square bay of ribbed vaulting in which an additional transverse rib divides the vault into six compartments
Shell: a plate of masonry, usually curved, which is relatively thin in proportion to its span
Springing: the point or level at which the actual curve of an arch or vault begins
Strain: the elastic deformation of a member under stress
Stress: the quantitative expression of the condition within an elastic object occasioned by external forces
Tas-de-charge: the lower courses of a ribbed vault, laid with horizontal joints
Tierceron: an intermediate rib in a vault which rises from the springing to the crown
Transept: either of the lateral arms in a church of cruciform plan
Transverse Arch: an arch spanning at right angles to the walls
Triforium: the area between arcade and clerestory which is normally blanked out by the single-pitch roof over the aisles
Vaulting: an arched masonry covering of stone or brick
Voussoir: one of the wedge-shaped blocks that make up an arch or vault
Web: the shell of the vault as opposed to the ribbed framework
[Source: Acland, 1972]
Key Definitions
Abutment: the support which takes the thrust and weight of an arch or vault
Apse: the circular or angular projection of the church sanctuary
Bay: one main compartment of vaulting
Buttress: any considerable projection from the face of a wall, built to resist overturning
Centring: a temporary construction of timber used to hold up masonry or brick during the process of erection
Choir: the area for clergy and choir, separated by a screen from the main body of the church, presbytery, or chancel
Clerestory: an upper stage in a building, projecting above adjacent roofs; particularly in a church, the projection of nave above aisle
Cloister: covered passages about an open court used for circulation in abbey or church property
Conoid: having the form of a cone, particularly in vaulting
Cross Vault: the shell form created by the intersection of two cylinders
Deformation: the change in shape of a structure under stress
Diagonal Rib: the rib at a folded edge of a cross vault, cutting diagonally across a bay of vaulting
Domical Cross Vault: an intersecting cross vault in which the crown is raised so that the shape approximates to a dome
Elastic Deformation: reversible change of shape under stress
Elevation: the drawing of the front or face of a building; vertical plane projection
Fan Vault: in English Gothic, an inverted conoid shell in which the regular ribs are purely decorative
Flying Rib: a rib in vaulting, free of the masonry shell
Flying Buttress: an exposed arch ring which carries the thrust of the vaulting over the aisle roof to an external buttressing pier
Groin: the intersecting edge of two vaulting surfaces; a folded surface
Haunch: the portion of an arch or vault immediately above the springing
Lierne Rib: secondary rib which links diagonals, tiercerons, and ridge ribs to create stellar or mesh patterns
Lime Mortar: the mixture of sand and lime (calcium carbonate) used to bind together the stone or brick of masonry construction
Nave: the major public area of a church
Pendant: a decorative projection hung from an arch or vault
Pier: a mass of masonry, as distinct from a column
Presbytery: the sanctuary or choir, reserved for the clergy, at the eastern end of the church
Quadripartite Vault: the simplest form of cross vaulting in which two transverse arches, two diagonal ribs, and two wall ribs divide the vault into four compartments
Ridge Rib: the horizontal rib at the crown of the vault
Section: the representation of a vertical plane cut through the structure of a building
Sexpartite Vault: a square bay of ribbed vaulting in which an additional transverse rib divides the vault into six compartments
Shell: a plate of masonry, usually curved, which is relatively thin in proportion to its span
Springing: the point or level at which the actual curve of an arch or vault begins
Strain: the elastic deformation of a member under stress
Stress: the quantitative expression of the condition within an elastic object occasioned by external forces
Tas-de-charge: the lower courses of a ribbed vault, laid with horizontal joints
Tierceron: an intermediate rib in a vault which rises from the springing to the crown
Transept: either of the lateral arms in a church of cruciform plan
Transverse Arch: an arch spanning at right angles to the walls
Triforium: the area between arcade and clerestory which is normally blanked out by the single-pitch roof over the aisles
Vaulting: an arched masonry covering of stone or brick
Voussoir: one of the wedge-shaped blocks that make up an arch or vault
Web: the shell of the vault as opposed to the ribbed framework
[Source: Acland, 1972]
All photos are the property of Michael Scott or James Sanderson unless otherwise stated.
© 2013 James Sanderson and Michael Scott | All rights reserved.
School of Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, University of Edinburgh
© 2013 James Sanderson and Michael Scott | All rights reserved.
School of Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, University of Edinburgh