Glossary



Acanthus
Stylized multi-leaf plant form used
to decorate moldings, brackets, and
capitals.

Baluster
A small column which supports a
staircase, porch, or landing rail.

Balustrade
A series of balusters.

Bay
One unit of a building consisting of
a series of similar units, usually
window and door openings.

Bracket
A projecting member which
supports or appears to support a
load, usually at eaves or overhangs.

Capital
The top of a column or pilaster,
supporting the entablature.

Clapboard
A long narrow board, overlapped to
cover outer walls of frame struc-
tures.

Classical
Pertaining to the architecture of
ancient Greece and Rome.

Colonette
A small column, usually decorative.

Colossal Order
An order of columns or pilasters
spanning several stories of a facade.

Console
A carved bracket which has an s-
shape formed by two volutes.

Corbel
A bracket or block projecting from
the face of a wall.

Corinthian Order
The most ornate of Greek orders:
characterized by a slender fluted
columns and a capital decorated
with acanthus leaves.

Cornice
The upper projecting section of the
entablature, resting on the frieze.

Cupola
A dome-shaped roof, usually on the
ridge of a roof.

Doric Order
The simplest Greek order, consist-
ing of heavy fluted columns, plain
saucer-like capitals, and a simple
cornice.



Dormer
A window projecting from a
pitched roof.

Entablature
Part of a structure between the
column capital and the roof of a
pediment; comprises the architrave;
frieze, and cornice.

Foliate
Decorated with leaf ornamentation.

Frieze
The central element of the entabla-
ture, above the architrave and
below the cornice.

Gable
The triangular wall at the end of a
double-pitched or gabled roof.

Keystone
The central voussoir of an arch.

Lozenge
A diamond-shaped motif.

Lantern
A structure built on a roof with
open or windowed walls.

Lunette
A semi-circular window.

Modillion
An ornamental bracket or console
used in a series under a cornice,
usually of the Corinthian order.

Molding
A continuous decorative band,
carved or applied to a surface.

Palladian Window
A projecting element of a wall, used
to emphasize the center of a
building.

Pediment
A triangular section of wall above
the cornice of an order.

Pilaster
A rectangular shaft attached to a
wall; often treated like a classical
column.

Porte Cochere
A large covered entrance porch.

Portico
A columned porch, usually with a
pedimented roof.

Quatrefoil
A design consisting of four lobes.



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