Table of Contents

GLOSSARY OF WORDS

USED IN TEXT OF THIS VOLUME

Acute. Sharp, to the point.

Adjuster. A tool which measures distances and relative spaces.

Æsthetic. The theory of taste; science of the beautiful in nature and art.

Abstract. That which exists in the mind only; separate from matter; to think of separately as a quality.

Alligator jaws. A term used to designate a pair of serrated bars which are held together in a headpiece, and capable of clamping bits between them.

Analyzed. Separated into its primitive or original parts.

Anchor. Any device for holding an object in a fixed position.

Angle dividers. A sort of double bevel tool so arranged that an angle can be made at the same time on both side of a base line.

Angularly disposed. Forming an angle with reference to some part or position.

Archivolt. The architectural member surrounding the curved opening of an arch. More commonly the molding or other ornaments with which the wall face of an arch is changed.

Artisan. One trained in some mechanic's art or trade.

Beaded. A piece of wood or iron having rounded creases on its surface.

Beam compass. A drawing compass in which the points are arranged to slide on a rod, instead of being fixed on dividers.

Belfry. A bell-tower, usually attached to a church.

Bevel square. A handle to which is pivotally attached a blade, which may be swung and held at any desired angle.

Bisected. To divide, mark, or cut into two portions.

Bit. A small tool, either for drilling, or for cutting, as a plane iron.

Braced collar. A form of roofing truss, in which the upper cross member is supported by a pair of angled braces.

Breast drill. A tool for holding boring tools, and designed to have the head held against the breast for forcing in the boring tool.

Bridle joint. A form for securing elements together which provides a shallow depression in one member, and a chamfered member at its end to fit therein.

Bungalow. A Bengalese term; originally a thatched or tiled house or cottage, single story, usually surrounded by a veranda.

Bushing. A substance of any kind interposed, as, for instance, a wearing surface between a mandrel and its bearing.

Butts. A term applied to certain hinges, usually of the large type.

Callipered. A measured portion which has its side or thickness fixed by a finely graduated instrument.

Cambered. Slightly rising in the middle portion. An upward bend, or projection.

Capital. A small head or top of a column; the head or uppermost member of a pilaster.

Cardinal. Pre-eminent, chief, main line; Cardinal line is the principal line to make calculations or measurements from.

Centering point. A place for the reception of the point of an instrument, like a compass or a dividers, or for the dead center of the tail-stock of a lathe.

Cheekpiece. A piece or pieces at right angles to another piece, either fixed or movable, which serves as a rest or a guide.

Chiffonier. A movable and ornamental closet or piece of furniture with shelves and drawers.

Chute. A channel in any material, or made of any substance, for conveying liquids or solids.

Circumference. The distance around an object.

Circumferentially. Surrounding or encircling.

Classical. Relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.

Cogged. Having teeth, either at regular or at irregular intervals.

Concrete. Expressing the thing itself specifically; also the quality; a specific example.

Configuration. Form, as depending on the relative disposition of the parts of a thing; a shape or a figure.

Coincide. To occupy the same place in space; to correspond exactly; to agree; to concur.

Correlation. A reference, as from one thing to another; the putting together of various parts.

Conventional. Something which grows out of or depends upon custom, or is sanctioned by general usage.

Craftsman. One skilled in a craft or trade.

Curvature. The act of curving or being bent.

Concentrated. To bring to a common center; to bring together in one mass.

Dado. A plain flat surface between a base and a surbase molding. Sometimes a painted or encrusted skirting on interior walls.

Depth gage. A tool by means of which the depths of grooves and recesses are measured.

Degree. Measure of advancement; quality; extent; a division or space.

Discarded. Cast off; to reject or put away.

Deterioration. To grow worse; impairing in quality.

Depressed. A sunken surface or part.

Diagrammatical. A drawing made to illustrate the working or the scheme, without showing all the parts or giving their relative positions or measurements.

Diametrically. A direction toward the center or across the middle of a figure or thing.

Diagonal. A direction which is not parallel with or perpendicular to a line.

Dominate. To govern; controlling.

Door trim. The hardware which is attached to a door.

Double-roofed. All form of roof structure where there is an inner frame to support the rafters.

Drop forged. Metal forms which are struck up by means of heavy hammers, in which are the molds or patterns of the article to be formed.

Elaboration. Wrought with labor; finished with great care.

Elevation. The act of raising from a lower to a higher degree; a projection of a building or other object on a plane perpendicular to the horizon.

Elliptical. Having the form of an ellipse.

Embellishment. The act of adorning; that which adds beauty or elegance.

Entablature. The structure which lies horizontally upon the columns.

Equidistant. Being at an equal distance from a point.

Escutcheon. An ornamental plate like that part about a keyhole.

Evolve. To unfold or unroll; to open and expand.

Façade. The front of a building; the principal front having some architectural pretensions.

Facing-boards. The finishing of the face of a wall of different material than the main part of the wall; the wide board below the cornice or beneath the windows.

Factor. One of the elements, circumstances or influences which contribute to produce a result.

Fence. A term used to designate a metal barrier or guard on a part of a tool.

Fish plate. A pair of plates, usually placed on opposite sides of the pieces to be secured together, and held by cross bolts.

Flare. A pitch; an angle; an inclination.

Flush. Unbroken, or even in surface; on a level with the adjacent surface.

Frog clamping screw. A screw which is designed to hold or adjust two angled pieces.

Fulcrum. That by which a lever is sustained, or on which a lever rests in turning or moving a body.

Fluting. The channel or channels in a body; as the grooves in a column.

Gain. A square or beveled notch or groove cut out of a girder, beam, post or other material, at a corner.

Gambrel. A roof having two different pitches, the upper much greater than the lower.

Geometry. Pertaining to that branch of mathematics which investigates [Pg 216] the relations, properties and measurements of solids, surfaces, lines and angles.

Girder. A main beam; a straight horizontal beam to span an opening or carry a weight, such as the ends of floor beams.

Glossary. A collection or explanation of words and passages of the works of an author; a partial dictionary.

Graduated. Cut up into steps; divided into equal parts.

Guide stock. A member which is the main portion of the tool, and from which all measurements are taken.

Hammer beam. A member in a truss roof structure, at the base of the roof proper, which consists of an inwardly projecting part, on which the roof rests, and from which it is braced.

Hammer-pole. The peon, or round end of a hammer which is used for driving nails.

Hemispherical. Pertaining to a half globe or sphere.

Horizontal. On the level; at right angles to a line which points to the center of the earth.

Incorporated. United in one body.

Index pin. A small movable member which is designed to limit the movement of the operative part of a machine.

Initial. To make a beginning with; the first of a series of acts or things.

Insulate. To place in a detached position; to separate from.

Interchangeable. One for the other.

Interval. A space between things; a void space; between two objects.

Interest. To engage the attention of; to awaken or attract attention.

Interlocking jaw. Two or more parts of a piece of mechanism in which the said parts pass each other in their motions.

Intersection. The point or line in which one line or surface cuts another.

Intervening. The portion between.

Inverted. Turned over; to put upside down.

Joggle-joint. A form of connection which has struts attached to a pendant post.

Joinery. The art or trade of joining wood.

Kerf. A notch, channel or slit made in any material by cutting or sawing.

Kit. A working outfit; a collection of tools or implements.

Level. A tool designed to indicate horizontal or vertical surfaces.

Liberal. Not narrow or contracted.

Lobe. Any projection, especially of a rounded form; the projecting part of a cam-wheel.

Longitudinal. In the direction of the length; running lengthwise.

Lubrication. The system of affording oiling means to a machine or to any article.

Mandrel. The live spindle of a lathe; the revolving arbor of a circular saw.

Mansard. A type of roof structure with two pitches, one, the lower, being very steep, and the other very flat pitch.

Manual. Of or pertaining to the hand; done or made by hand.

Marginal. The border or edge of an object.

Marking gage. A bar on which is placed a series of points, usually equidistant from each other.

Matching. Placing tongue in one member and a corresponding groove in another member, so that they will join each other perfectly.

Mediæval. Of or relating to the Middle Ages.

Miter-box. A tool for the purpose of holding a saw true at any desired adjustable angle.

Miter-square. A tool which provides adjustment at any desired angle.

Mullion. A slender bar or pier which forms the vertical division between the lights of windows, screens, etc.; also, indoors, the main uprights are stiles, and the intermediate uprights are mullions.

Obliterated. Erased or blotted out.

Obtuse. Not pointed; bent.

Orbit. The path made by a heavenly body in its travel around another body.

Ordinate. The distance of any point in a curve or a straight line, measured on a line called the axis of ordinates, or on a line parallel to it from another line, at right angles thereto, called the axis of abscissas.

Ornamentation. To embellish; to improve in appearance.

Oscillate. To swing like a pendulum.

Overhang. In a general sense that which projects out.

Paneling. A sunken compartment or portion with raised margins, molded or otherwise, as indoors, ceilings wainscoting, etc.

Parallelogram. A right-lined quadrilateral figure, whose opposite sides are parallel and, consequently, equal.

Parallel. Extended in the same direction, and in all parts equally distant.

Perspective. A view; a vista; the effect of distance upon the appearance of objects, by means of which the eye recognizes them as being at a more or less measurable distance.

Pivot. A fixed pin, or short axis, on the end of which a wheel or other body turns.

Pitch. Slope; descent; declivity, like the slope of a roof.

Placement. The act of placing; in the state of being placed.

Predominate. To be superior in number, strength, influence or authority; controlling.

Produced. To lengthen out; to extend.

Prototype. The original; that from which later forms sprang.

Purlin. A longitudinal piece of timber, under a roof, mid-*way between the eaves and comb, to hold the rafters.

Rabbeting. The manner of cutting grooves or recesses.

Ratchet. A wheel, bar, or other form of member, having teeth or recesses.

Rebate. A rectangular, longitudinal recess or groove, cut in the corner or edge of a body.

Rail. A horizontal piece in a frame or paneling.

Rectangular. Right-angled; having one or more angles of ninety degrees; a four-sided figure having only right angles.

Rib and collar. A form of roof truss in which the collar between rafters is used as the thrust bearing for the ribs which project up from the hammer beam.

Router. A tool for cutting grooves or recesses.

Saddle joint. A form of connection in which one part has a portion cut away, resembling a saddle, and in which the part to be attached has its end cut so as to fit the saddle thus formed.

Scarfing. The cutting away of the ends of timbers to be joined, so the two parts on lapping will unite evenly.

Scissors beam. A form of truss, in which there is a pair of interior braces formed like shears, and secured to the main rafters themselves.

Score, Scored. Shear; cut; divide; also notching or marking.

Scratch awl. A sharp-pointed tool, with a handle.

Scribe. To cut, indent or mark with a tool, such as a knife, awl or compass, so as to form a cutting line for the workman.

Self-supporting. Held by itself; not depending upon outside aid.

Shank. Usually the handle, or portion to which the handle is attached.

Slitting gage. A tool which is designed to cut along a certain line guided by an adjustable fence.

Soffit. The under side of an arch.

Solid. Not hollow; full of matter; having a fixed form; hard; opposed to liquid or fluid.

Spindle. A small mandrel; an arbor; a turning shaft.

Springer. The post or point at which an arch rests upon its support, and from which it seems to spring.

Sphere. A body or space continued under a single surface which, in every part, is equally distant from a point within called its center.

Spur. A small part jutting from another.

Strike plate. A plate serving as a keeper for a beveled latch bolt and against which the latter strikes in closing.

Steel Tubing. Pipes made from steel; tubing is measured across from outside to outside; piping is measured on the inside.

Step-wedge. A wedge having one straight edge, and the other edge provided with a succession of steps, by means of which the piece gradually grows wider.

Strain, Stresses. To act upon in any way so as to cause change of form or volume; as forces on a beam to bend it.

Strut. Any piece of timber which runs from one timber to another, and is used to support a part.

Stub. A projecting part, usually of some defined form, and usually designed to enter or engage with a corresponding recess in another member.

Submerged. To be buried or covered, as with a fluid; to put under.

Swivel. A pivoted member, used in many forms of tools, in which one part turns on the other.

Tail-stock. The sliding support or block in a lathe, which carries the dead spindle, or adjustable center.

Technical. Of or pertaining to the useful in mechanical arts, or to any science, business, or the like.

Texture. The disposition of the several parts of any body in connection with each other; or the manner in which the parts are united.

Tool rest. That part of a lathe, or other mechanism, which supports a tool, or holds the tool support.

Torso. The human body as distinguished from the head and limbs.

Transverse. In a crosswise direction; lying across; at right angles to the longitudinal.

Trimmer. A beam, into which are framed the ends of headers in floor framing, as when a hole is left for stairs, chimneys, and the like.

Truss. An assemblage of members of wood or iron, supported at two points, and arranged to transmit pressure vertically to those points with the least possible strain, across the length of any member.

Tusk. In mechanism, a long projecting part, longer than a tenon, and usually applied to the long or projecting part of a tenon.

Universal joint. A joint wherein one member is made to turn with another, although the two turning members are not in a line with each other.

Vocation. Employment; trade; profession; business.

Voissoir. One of the wedgelike stones of which an arch is composed.