Glossary of Architectural Terms


Bargeboard:
 A board trim that is usually carved and projects from the gable line of a roof.
Bargeboard
Bellcast:  
A curved shape resulting in a lower pitch at the bottom of a roof slope, thus taking the shape of the bottom rim of a large bell.
Bellcast
Casement: 
A window that is vertically hinged and may open either inward or outward.
Casement
Catslide: 
A pitched roof covering one side of a roof and continuing at the same pitch over a side or rear extension of the building to a point lower than the opposite roof line.
Catslide
Clapboards:
Tapered horizontal boards used as siding, thickest on their bottom edge, each one overlapping the one below.		Clapboard
Corbel:
A bracket of stone, wood, or brick projecting from the face of a wall and generally used to support a cornice or arch.		Corbel
Cornice:
Any projecting ornamental molding that finishes or crowns the top of a building, wall, or arch.		Cornice
Cornice Return:
The continuation of the cornice in a different direction, usually at a right angle and at the gable end of a house.		Cornice return
Cupola:
A small dome-like structure situated on top of a roof or turret.  Commonly cube or round in shape.		Cupola
Dentil:
One of a series of small blocks used to form an ornamental row as in a denticulated cornice.		Dentil
Dormer:
A window that projects from a sloping roof and is covered with a small gable, shed, or other roof structures.		Dormer
Double Hung:
Referring to a window with two sashes that opens by means of one or both sashes sliding vertically past each other.		Double hung
Gable:
The triangular section of the end wall formed by two sloping roofs.  Sometimes refers to the whole end wall of a building or wing having a pitched roof.		Gable
Gable Roof:
A roof that has one slope on opposite sides of the ridge with a gable at either end.		Gable roof
Gambrel Roof:
A roof that has two slopes on opposite sides of the ridge where the upper slope is of a lesser pitch than the lower slope.  Often associated with barn roofs.		Gambrel Roof
Gingerbread:
Ornate trim resembling cut work.		gingerbread
Half-timbered:
In medieval times, a building with exposed wood framing whereby the spaces between the wooden timbers are filled with plaster, brick, or stone.  Houses built in the late 19th and 20th centuries imitated the early half-timbered methods- the timbers are generally not part of the structure and are for ornamental purposes only.		Half timbered
Hip Roof:
A roof that has a slope on all four sides of a building; the joint where two slopes of a roof meets is called a hip.		hip roof
Impost:
The uppermost part of a column or pillar supporting an arch.		Impost
Irregular Massing:
In the late 19th century, improved heating systems and building construction allowed for many extensions and re-entrants to a home.  A "footprint" of an irregular massed home would show many corners and "nooks."
irregular massing
Keystone:
The central upper most stone of an arch.		keystone
Lintel:
A horizontal structural member at the top of a window or a door that carries the load of the wall above; usually made of wood, stone, or metal.		Lintel
Modillion:
An ornamental bracket or scroll, generally used in a series, beneath the building or porch cornice.		Modillion
Oriel:
A window projecting from the wall of a house.		Oriel
Palladian Window:
A three-part window where the center window is arched and wider than the other two flat topped side windows.		Palladian
Pediment:
The triangular face of a roof gable, typically used as a decoration above a window, door, or dormer on porches.		Pediment
Pendill:
The carved or molded bottom end ornament of a hanging-vertical member of a decorative structure or bracket; can also e a carved wood ornament that terminates the bottom end of second floor posts in frame construction.		Pendill
Pilaster:
A flat, rectangular column projecting only slightly form a wall; usually has a base, shaft, and capital and is often fluted to simulate a classical column.
Pilaster
Porte Cochere:
A doorway by which a carriage may be driven under or through a portion of the building.		porte cochere
Segmental Arch:
A type of circular arch that does not extend on the sides to a full half circle; often found on the tops of windows.
Segmented arch
Shed Roof:
A roof with one sloping plane.
Shed Roof
Shiplap Siding:
Horizontal boards used as siding, with rabbeted edges to make an overlapping joint.		shiplap
Transom:
A small window above a door or other window, sometimes fixed and sometimes movable, that is used to provide additional natural light and ventilation.		transom
Truncated:
Cut off or cut short, usually in reference to a roof.		truncated roof
Turret:
A small tower usually found on a corner of a building.
Turret
Tympanum:
The semicircular space between a lintel of a door an the arch above it.		tympanum