Architectural and Engineering Glossary
B
See bowtell.
See land boundary.
A marker or inscribed stone that designates some type of boundary;for example,see meridian stone.
A mathematically closed diagram of the complete peripheral boundary of a site,reflecting dimensions,compass bearings and angles.It should bear a licensed land surveyor’s signed certification,and may include a metes and bounds or other written description.
Same as intercepting drain.
The floral or foliated ornament forming the extreme top of a finial, knob,hip,or the like.
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1.The longitudinal curvature of a rod,bar,or piece of tubing or lumber.2.A flexible rod for laying large curves to any desired curvature.3.Old English term for flying buttress.
A compass,one leg of which carries a pencil or pen;the legs are connected by a bow-shaped spring instead of a joint;used to draw arcs or circles.
A bow compass,each leg of which terminates in a point;used to transfer measure- ments from one part of a drawing to another.
A girder at a “corner” of a building having a curved façade.
A saw having a narrow blade which is held taut in a bowed frame.
A rounded bay window;projects from the face of a wall in a plan which is the segment of a circle.
Same as segmental roof.
A bay window having a semi circular or a bowed shape.
An open-top diffusing glass or plastic enclosure used to shield a light source from direct view and to redirect or scatter the light.
A plain capital shaped like a bowl.
A floor which slopes downward toward a central area,as toward a stage in a theater.
A carefully maintained,level piece of lawn,originally reserved for the game of bowls (bowling).
A roof supported by bowstring trusses.
A hollow beam,usually rectangular in section;if fabricated of steel,the sides are steel plates welded together,or they may be riveted together by steel angles at the corners.
A sliding bolt which is rectangular in cross section;attached to a door at the edge,it slides into a receptacle to secure the door.
A chisel,one end of which is notched;used to pry open boxes that are nailed.
A hollow,built-up column,constructed of wood,usually rectangular or square in section.
A culvert,usually of reinforced concrete,which is rectangular in cross section.
Same as cofferdam.
See common dovetail.
An underground drain which is rectangular in cross section;usually constructed of concrete or brick.
A garden divided into sections by hedges of boxwood.
See box beam.
A rectangularly shaped wood gutter that is set into and partially below the lower edge of a roof;usually lined with sheet lead or asphalt.
A house having gables on its end walls;usually two or three rooms wide and two rooms deep.
Assembly of metal components,some or all tapered upward,inserted into a downward flaring hole (lewis hole) cut into the tops of columns or other heavy masonry units for hoisting.
A metal door lock commonly encased in a flat rectangular box,often fabricated of brass;mounted on the interior surface of a door.
The built up mullion of a cased frame of a double hung window;has hollow jambs containing the counterweights.
A nail similar to a common nail but thinner;has a long shank which may be smooth or barbed.
A room or booth with one or more windows facing a theater lobby or public area;used for sale of tickets.
To form an opening or pocket in concrete by means of a box like form.
A church pew screened or enclosed by a high back and sides.
Said of a concrete pipe having a rectangular cross section.
A type of sill,1 used in frame construction;a header joist,nailed to the ends of the floor joists,rests on the sill.
An interior staircase constructed with a close string on both sides,often enclosed by walls or partitions with door openings at various floor levels.
In barns or stables,an individual compartment in which an animal may move about freely.
On a doorpost,a socket which receives the end of a lock bolt which secures the door.
A stool with a compartment beneath a hinged lid or seat.
A high stoop making a quarter turn,reached by a flight of stairs along a building front.
A metal plate on a doorframe into which the bolt of a door lock projects,and which provides a complete housing that protects the bolt opening from tampering.
Same as a close string.
To encase with boards,as in the nailing of sheathing boards over studs.
A wrench,usually double ended,that has a closed socket which fits over the head of a bolt or a nut.
That part of a roof that projects beyond the exterior wall (i.e.the eaves),which is enclosed by boards and or moldings so that the rafters are not visible.
