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Architectural Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Abacus: A block adorning the top of capitals acting as a support for the entablature. In the Tuscan, Doric and Ionic orders, the abacus is square from the top (plan) view whereas in the Corinthian and Composite orders there are concave, circular cuts taken from each of the four sides of the abacus. In all orders various moldings defining the profile of the abacus.
Acanthus Leaf: An ornamental rendering of the leaf of the Acanthus plant used to adorn various architectural pieces including capitals of the Corinthian and Composite orders.
Annulet: Ring molding, square in profile, used on capitals of the Doric order. See also fillet.
Apophyge: The curved, concave part of the column shaft at the junction point of the shaft with the base or either the astragal (if present) or the capital (if no astragal is present).
Arcade: A series of arches. The arches are usually held up by columns.
Arch: A curved architectural element used to provide support to superior structure while maintaining an open passageway beneath the structure. The apex of the arch is often adorned with a keystone.
Architrave: The bottommost section of molding in an entablature. The architrave is the part of the entablature which rests on the abacus of the capital. An architrave is sometimes referred to as an epistyle.
Arris: The sharp edge separating the flutes of the shaft of Greek Doric columns.
Astragal: A ring found at the top of a column shaft. The astragal is separated from the shaft by the apophyge. The astragal is sometimes separated from the capital by necking (such as in the capitals of the Tuscan and Doric orders), can be flush with the capital (such as in the case of the capitals of the Corinthian and Composite orders) or can be included as part of the capital (such as in the case of the capitals of the Ionic order).

B

Baluster: *******
Balustrade: A series of balusters held together by a rail or rail and molding.
Barbaro, Daniele: *******
Base: *******
Bead and Reel: *******
Bed Mould: *******
Bell: *******
Block: *******
Bolster: *******
Bracket: *******
Bud: *******
Button: *******

C

Caisson: *******
Capital: *******
Capital of the Triglyph: *******
Cathetes: A term used by Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola to describe two imaginary lines used for spacing proportions of the Ionic Order. These verticle lines run in parallel, passing through the eyes of the volutes of the capital (Canon of the Five Orders of Architecture).
Caulicolus: *******
Cavetto: *******
Caviculus: *******
Central Leaves: See also minor leaves and lower leaves.
Cimacio: A term used by Andrea Palladio to describe both the cyma and fillet as a whole (Canon of the Five Orders of Architecture). See also cimatio.
Cimasa: A term used by Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola to describe the cyma when used in combination with another architectural element (Canon of the Five Orders of Architecture). See also cimatio.
Cimatio: A term used by Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola to describe the cyma and fillet as a whole (Canon of the Five Orders of Architecture). See also cimasa and cimacio.
Cincture: *******
Colonnade: *******
: *******
Composite Order: *******
Console: *******
Corinthian Order: *******
Cornice: *******
Corona: *******
Crown: *******
Cyma: *******
Cyma Recta: *******
Cyma Reversa: *******

D

Dentil: *******
Die: *******
Diminution: *******
Dome: *******
Doric Order: *******

E

Echinus: *******
Egg and Dart: *******
Entablature: *******
Entasis: *******
Epistyle: Commonly referred to as an architrave, the epistyle is the bottommost section of molding in an entablature. The epistyle is the part of the entablature which rests on the abacus of the capital.
Extrados: *******
Eye: *******

F

Facade: *******
Fascia: *******
Fiberglass: *******
Fillet: *******
Fillet of the Abacus: *******
Fillet of the Architrave: *******
Flashing: *******
Fleuron: *******
Flower: *******
Flute: *******
Fluting of the Column: *******
Frieze: *******
Frieze of the Capital: *******

G

Gittae: *******
Gola: Term used by Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola for the cyma (Canon of the Five Orders of Architecture).
Gola Reversa: *******
Guttae: *******

H

I

Impost: *******
Imo Scapo: *******
Interdentils: *******
Intrados: *******
Ionic Order: *******

J

K

Keystone: *******

L

Lip of the Bell: *******
Loggia: *******
Lower Leaves: See also central leaves and minor leaves.
Lower Torus: See also torus and upper torus.
Lower Trochilus: See also trochilus and upper trochilus.

M

Metopes: *******
Minor Leaves: See also central leaves and lower leaves.
Modillion: *******
Module: *******
Molding: *******
Mutule: *******

N

Neck: *******
Niche: *******

O

Ovolo: *******
Ornament: *******

P

Palladio, Andrea: *******
Panel/Paneling: *******
Pedestal: *******
Pergola: *******
Pilaster: *******
Plinth: *******
Portico: *******
Pulvinated: *******

Q

R

Radius: *******
Rail: *******
Regula: *******
Rosette: *******

S

Scamozzi: *******
Scotia: *******
Semi-Major Axis: *******
Semi-Minor Axis: *******
Serlio, Sebastiano: *******
Shank: *******
Shaft: *******
Socle: *******
Soffit: *******
Sommo Scapo: *******
Spandrel: *******
Scroll: *******
SureFit System: *******

T

Taenia: *******
Taper: *******
Torus: See also upper torus and lower torus.
Triglyph: *******
Trochilus: See also upper trochilus and lower trochilus.
Tuscan Order: *******

U

Upper Torus: See also torus and lower torus.
Upper Trochilus: See also trochilus and lower trochilus.
Urn: *******

V

Vault: *******
Vignola, Giacomo Barozzi da: *******
Vitruvious: *******
Volute: *******

W

X

Y

Z

Zoophorus: *******

Works Cited

Vignola, Giacomo Barozzi da (Rome 1572). Canon of the Five Orders of Architecture (Trans. Branko Mitrovic). New York: Acanthus Press, 1999.
Ware, William R (New York 1903). The American Vignola. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1994.