B

1.The wall of an outer court of a feudal castle.2.A hinged loop that is used for lifting.

The open area within a castle fortification.See inner bailey and outer bailey;also see motte and bailey.

A wattle and daub wall constructed of bagasse,which is covered with plaster mixed with clay and straw.

A small subsidiary structure having one or more ovens used exclusively for baking of bread and pastries;once especially found in religious communities and on plantations;usually located away from the principal dwelling to reduce the risk of setting it on fire.
 

An oven constructed of bricks,usually having a circular or oval dome;often located within the hearth of the principal fireplace of a colonial home,usually in a corner of the hearth and a few feet above it.Bake ovens were once an integral part of the fireplace construction;some were heated by glowing charcoal or embers that were swept out before the unbaked loaves were inserted and the iron oven door closed.Also called a beehive oven,bread oven,brick oven,or Dutch oven.

A surface coating that achieves the desired properties by being baked,usually at a temperature of at least 150F (65C).

The use of heat on fresh paint films to speed the evaporation of thinners and to promote the reaction of binder components so as to form a hard polymeric film.

On a projected window,a side supporting arm which is constructed so that the center of gravity of the sash is not changed appreciably when opened.

A long beam,attached to a gate (or drawbridge, etc.)so as to counterbalance the weight of the gate during opening or closing.

A pipe connection used to equalize the pressure at two points in a piping system.

A three wire electric circuit in which the load is the same on each side of the neutral wire.

A plywood or sandwich panel construction which has an odd number of plies laminated together so that the construction is identical on both sides of a plane through the center of the panel.

A door so arranged that it is held either open or closed by weights.

Cut and fill work in which the amount of fill equals the amount of material excavated.

The condition that exists when there is the simultaneous occurrence of a primary compression failure and a primary tension failure.

A ladder held in a vertical position by guides with a weight attached equal to the weight of the ladder.

1.A load connected to an electric circuit (as a three-wire system) so that the currents taken from each side of the system are equal and the power factors are equal.2.The load at which there is simultaneous crushing of concrete and yielding of tension steel.

An amount and distribution of steel reinforcement in a flexural reinforced concrete member such that the allowable tensile stress in the steel and the allowable compressive stress in the concrete are attained simultaneously.

In a double hung window,a sash which opens by being raised or lowered and whose weight is balanced with counterweights or with pretensioned springs so that little force is required to lift the sash.

One of a series of winders arranged so that the width of each winder tread (at the narrow end) is almost equal to the tread width in the straight portion of the adjacent stair flight.

A procedure for adjusting the mass distribution of a rotor so that vibration of the journals,or the forces on the bearings,are reduced or controlled.

See balancing valve.

A valve used in a pipe for controlling fluid flow;not usually used to shut off the flow.

A Greek term for a bath.

A South American glossy wood;quite hard, heavy;yellowish brown,orange,or purplish brown in color.

On drawings,abbr. for balcony.

balconet  A pseudo-balcony;a low ornamental railing to a window,projecting but slightly beyond the threshold or sill.

1.A projecting platform on a building,sometimes supported from below,sometimes cantilevered;enclosed with a railing or balustrade.2. A projecting gallery in an auditorium;a seating area over the main floor.3.An elevated platform used in a permanent stage setting in a theater.

In a vertical rainwater pipe that passes through an exterior balcony,a fitting which provides an inlet for the drainage of rain water from the balcony.

See rail.

A balcony used as a playing area,as in the Elizabethan theater.

See smooth surfaced roof. 

An ornamental canopy over an altar,usually supported on columns,or a similar form over a tomb or throne.

1.See straw bale house.2.An obsolete term for warehouse.
 

Same as lead tack.

See bolection molding. 

In medieval battlements,a cross shaped aperture through which crossbowmen shot arrows.

A balk,1 which joins the wall posts of a timber roof,preventing the walls from spreading.

1.A squared timber used in building construction.2.A low ridge of earth that marks a boundary line.

See ballflower.

Same as wrecking ball.

A door fastener having a contained metal ball which is under pressure from a spring;the ball engages a striking plate and keeps the door from opening until force is applied.

A float valve with a spherical float.

A floating device,usually approx.spherical in shape,which is used to operate a ball valve.

A joint in which one part has a ball shaped end that is held in a spherical shell attached to the other,thereby permitting the axis of one part to be set at any angle with respect to the other.

A hammer having a hemi spherical peen.

1.See Kelly ball test.2.In a drain,a test for freedom from obstruction and for circularity;a ball (less than the diameter of the drain by a specified amount) is rolled through the drain.

A valve for regulating the flow of fluids by a movable ball which fits in a spherical seat.

A hinge which is equipped with ball bearings between the hinge knuckles in order to reduce friction.

A spring-operated check valve in a piping system;when the fluid flows in one direction,pressure against a movable ball allows fluid to pass;when the direction of flow is reversed,the ball is forced against a seat,thereby stopping the flow.