A

Acanthus Leaf - Motif in classical architecture found on Corinthian columns 

Aedicule - A pedimented entablature with columns used to frame a window or niche 

Arcade - Series of round arches supported by columns or posts 

Architrave - The lowest part of a classical entablature running from column to column 

Ashlar - Squared building stone laid in parallel courses 

Astragal - Molding with a semicircular profile 

Astylar - Facade without columns or pilasters 

B  

Balconet - False balcony outside a window 

Baluster - The post supporting a handrail 

Balustrade - Railing at a stairway, porch or roof 

Bargeboard - Decorative boards located at the end of a gable 

Bas Relief - Shallow carving of figures and landscapes 

Battered Wall - Wall leaning inward from its base rather than outward 

Belt Course - Narrow horizontal band projecting from exterior walls, usually defining interior floor levels 

Belvedere - Projection from top of roof; also called cupola 

Bracket - Supporting element under a cornice 

Broken Pediment - Pediment with cornices ending before they meet at the top; finial often placed in the center 

Bulkhead - Horizontal or inclined door over exterior stairway to cellar

C  

Cames - The lead portions of stained glass windows 

Campanile - A tower 

Cantilever - Projecting overhang 

Capital - The top part of a pilaster or column 

Cartouche - Ornamental panel; oval or scroll-shaped 

Casement Window - Window hinged on the side that opens like a door 

Clapboard - Long thin overlapping wooden boards placed horizontally on the outside of a building 

Colonet - Small decorative column 

Colonnade - Series of columns supporting an entablature 

Column - Round vertical support 

Columniation - Arrangement of columns

Composite Column - Elaborate combination of Ionic and Corinthian features         

Coping - Top course of a wall 

Coquillage - Seashell-styled decoration 

Corbel - Bracket or block projecting from the face of a wall 

Corbiestep - Stepped-end gable 

Corinthian Capital - Top part of a column characterized by large acanthus leaves and fluted column 

Cornice - A horizontal molded projection that completes a building or wall; or the upper slanting part of an entablature 

Crenellation - Square openings in the top of a parapet 

Cresting - Line of ornamentation finishing a roof         

Cupola - A cup-shaped cap over a structure; often found on carriage houses 

Cyclopean Block - Rock faced blocks often used in foundations 

D  

Dado - Mid section of a pedestal, between base and cornice 

Dentil - Molding made up of rows of small square blocks 

Dimension Stone - Large blocks of stone used in foundations 

Doric Column - Column with plain capital, no base or fluting

Dormer Window - Window that projects from a sloping roof 

Double-Hung Windows - Windows with two sashes sliding up and down 

E  

Eaves - Lowest projecting part of a sloped roof 

Egg & Dart - Molding in which an egg shape alternates with a dart shape 

Elephantine Columns - Tapered; used as porch supports on Bungalows. 

Entablature - Horizontal detailing above a classical column and below a pediment, consisting of cornice, frieze and architrave. 

Exedra - Wall alcove with bench space  

Eyebrow Window - Roof dormer having low sides; formed by raising small section of roof 

F  

Facade - Main face or side of a building 

Fanlight - Fixed half-moon window sash above a door 

Fascia - Flat vertical board used to hide ends of roof rafters 

Fenestration - Design and placement of windows 

Finial - Decorative vertical roof ornament 

Flat Arch - Arch without rounded underside 

Fluting - Narrow vertical grooves on shafts of columns and pilasters 

Foliated - Decorative motif with leaflike ornament 

Frieze - Band below cornice 

Frontispiece - Small pediment over door or window 

G  

Gable - Upper triangular portion of wall at the end of a roof 

Gable Roof - Shaped in an upside-down V 

Gambrel Roof - Double-pitched with end walls pointed at top 

Gargoyle - Carved figure with grotesque features; often on corners of buildings. 

Garland - Ornamental detail in the shape of a band of flowers 

Gingerbread - Elaborate wooden fretwork used on gables or as porch trim 

Gutta - Droplike element found underneath a triglyph or in a mutule 

Gothic Arch - Arch with pointed top 

Guilloche - Molding resembling twisted rope 

H  

Helicline - Curved ramp

Hipped Roof - Slopes upward from all four sides 

Hoodmold - Decorative projecting trim above a window             

Horseshoe Arch - Arch in which the bottom is smaller than the mid-span; found in Moorish architecture 

I  

Imbrication - Overlapping of shingles or tiles

Impost - Horizontal band from which arch begins 

Ionic Column - Slender, fluted, with spiral volutes on capital 

J  

Jamb - Sidepiece on doors and windows  

Jerkinhead - Gable roof with hipped end; also called hipped gable

Jutty - Upper story projecting beyond the one below; also called jetty

K  

Keystone - Wedge-shaped stone found in the center of some arches 

L  

Lanai - Furnished veranda

Lancet Window - Window with a pointed arch 

Leaded Light - Window made up of small rectangular or diamond shaped panes of glass set in lead came. 

Lintel - Horizontal structural member that spans an opening 

Lites - Individual panes of glass 

Loggia - Arcade or gallery open on at least one side 

Lug Sill - One that extends beyond bottom window         

Lunette - Semicircular window or wall panel 

M  

Mansard Roof - Double pitched roof in which lower pitch is nearly vertical and upper is nearly horizontal 

Mezzanine - Partial story between two main stories; usually projects as a balcony

Modillion Blocks - Ornamental scroll-shaped brackets or blocks found under the cornice 

Mullion - Vertical member separating two or more windows 

Muntin - Vertical or horizontal divisions between lites in a window or door         

Mutule - Block under the soffit of a cornice 

N  

Newel - Post supporting one end of a handrail at top or bottom of stairs

Niche - Wall recess reserved for statue 

O  

Oculus - Circular opening in a wall 

Ogee - Molding with both concave and convex curves 

Oriel - Upper-story projecting bay window with corbels or brackets 

Ovolo - Convex molding also called quarter round 

P  

Palladin Window - One with an arched center section flanked by lower flat-topped sections 

Parapet - Part of a wall that extends beyond the roof 

Patera - Round or oval disc, usually ornamented with a rosette in the center  

Pediment - Triangular gable end of roof above cornice 

Pendant - Hanging ornament 

Pent Roof - Sloping roof attached to side of building 

Pier - Square pillar or post 

Pilaster - Half column or pier attached to a wall 

Plinth - Raised platform upon which sits a column 

Porte Cochere - Porch roof projecting over a driveway 

Portico - Porch supported by columns, usually above entrance 

Postern - Side entrance

Putto - Statue of naked chubby baby; similar to a cherub with no wings 

Q  

Quatrefoil - Four-lobed motif; usually in block shape 

Quoins - Units of cut stone or brick used to accentuate the vertical corners of buildings 

R  

Reeding - Opposite of fluting; protruding half-round molding 

Ridge Roll - Rounded cap covering exterior peak of roof

Rincleau - Scroll or vines cut in stone 

Rubble - Undressed broken stone used in construction 

Rusticated - Stonework with beveled or angled edges 

S

Sash - Frame in which the glass panes or a window are set 

Scrollwork - Ornamental work with curvilinear open patterns 

Segmented Arch - Arch that does not form complete semi-circle 

Sill - Bottom member of a window or door 

Soffit - Underside of an eave, lintel or other horizontal element 

Spindle - Turned vertical wooden element used in stair railings and porch trim 

Stoop - Small porch leading to entrance of a house 

String Course - Horizontal band of masonry wrapping around entire facade of building

T  

Terrace - Open area connected to building; usually paved

Terra Cotta - Fired clay used for decorative ornamental details 

Tracery - Interlaced lines that form the lacy openwork of a Gothic-style window         

Transom - Small window above door 

Trayle - Decorative motif of continuous vine, leaf and grape clusters 

Trefoil - Clover-leaved pattern 

Triglyph - Banded decoration in a frieze 

Turpet - Small tower on corner of building supported by corbels 

Tuscan Column - Simple column with plain shaft 

Tympanum - Triangular face of a pediment 

U  

Uncoursed Masonry - Not set in layers; no continuous horizontal joints 

V  

Veranda - Porch that runs along front or side of a building; supported by pillars or columns 

Vermiculation - Decorative masonry surface with shallow channels 

Volutes - Scroll shape found on Ionic capital 

Voussoir - Wedge-shaped stones forming curved parts of an arch 

W

Wainscot - Facing of wood paneling, usually covering lower portion of interior wall

Water Table - Molding or projection on the exterior located at the intersection of the basement and first story 

Wheel Window - Round window with mullions radiating from the center 

Widow’s Walk - Narrow platform on roof; usually with wooden or wrought-iron balustrade

Wing - Building part projecting from a central or main part

X

Xystus - Tree-lined walk 

Y

Yoke - Top of a double-hung window

Z

Zoophorous - Frieze decorated with animal or human figures 

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