Terminology

Definitions taken from John Fleming, et al, The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture, 4th ed., London, 1991.

1. Arcade: a range of arches carried on piers or columns.
2. Buttress: a mass of masonry projecting from or built against a wall to give additional strength, usually to counteract the lateral thrust of an arch, roof or vault.
3. Clerestory: the upper stage of the main walls of a church above the aisle roofs pierced by windows.
4. Cross rib: the diagonal arch of a ribbed vault.
5. Lancet: a slender, pointed arched window.
6. Nave: the western limb of a church, west of the crossing.
8. Pier: a solid masonry support as distinct from a column.
9. Plinth: the projecting base of a wall or column pedestal.
9. Quadrant: the quarter of a circle. (Quadrant Arch: Flying Buttress Hidden from view beneath side aisle roof.) ed.
10. Queen posts: a pair of vertical timbers placed symmetrically on a tie-beam.
11. Rib vault: a framework of diagonal arched ribs.
12. Set-off: a step-back or set-back in the masonry of buttress.
13. Shaft: slender column between base and capital.
14. Spandrel: the surface between two arches in an arcade.
15. Springer: the point at which an arch springs from its supports.
16. Tie beam: horizontal, transverse timber.
17. Triforium: an arcaded middle level, above the main arcade and below the clerestory. In French buildings it contains a passage.
18. Truss: a number of timbers braced together to bridge a space.
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