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apse
circular or polygonal end of a chapel or tower arcading
rows of arches supported on columns, either free standing or attached to a wall (blind arches) arch
self-supporting structure over an opening architrave
moulding surorunding or framing, a doorway or window arrow-loop, arrow-slit
long, narrow, vertical openings in a wall or merlon, though which arrows are shot. Round r triangular ends were for cross-bows, as were the rare horizontal slits, sometimes called crosslets. ashlar
blocks of smooth, squared stone of any kind astragal
a ba ina window, often wooden, between panes attic
the top storey entirely within a gables roof aumbrey
originally almry 'a place for alms'. A cupboard in a stone wall used to hold sacred vessels for the mass, but later for domestic use bailey, ward
courtyard within the walls of a castle ballista
siege engine in the shape of a large bow for shooting missiles, usually iron bolts balustrate
ornamental parapet of posts and railing barbican
outward continuation of a gateway or entrace, to defent it. barmkin
outer defensive walling, Scottish barrel vault
semicircular roof of stone or wood bartizan
small turret projecting from the corner or flank of a tower or wall, usually at the top basement
the lowerst storey of a building sometimes below ground level bastle house
small tower house with a living room over a byre batter
a slight inward leaning or tilt of a wall from its base upwards, either to add strength, or to make tunnelling by attacking forces more difficult bastion
tower or turret projecting from a wall length or at the junction of two walls batter
slopeing or sploayed part of a wal at ground level, particularly of a tower battlements, crenellation
the parapet of a tower or wall with indentations or openings (embrasures or crenelles) alternating with solid projectsion (merlons) bawn
outer defensive walling, Irish bay
a section or cmpartment of a building bay window
a window projeting froma builint at ground level, wither retangular or polygonal, of one or more stories. belfry
tall, moveable wooden tower on wheels, used in sieges berm
horizontal spave between a curtain or tower and its moat billet
one of a tow of rectangular blocks raised as an ornament in Norman architecture boss
a knob or projection to cover the intersection of ribs in a vault bow window
a bay window, but curved. brattice
hoarding, a projection from a wallhead, normally built of wood, providing machicolation broch
a round tower-like structure open in the middle, the double wall of drystone masonry being linked by slabs for form internal galleries at varying levels. FOund in N and W Scotland. buttress
projecting pillar added to a wall to strengthen it cable-moulding
a NOrman moulding carved like a length of rope cap-house
small chamber at the top of a spiral staircase in a tower or turret, leading to the open wall-walk on the roof castle
a fortified house or stronghold castellations
battlements and turrets chevron moulding
moulding in the shape of an inverted V, a Norman feature close
a courtyard or passage giving access to a number of buildings clunch
hard chalk used as building material. OFten plastered with limewash for durability colonnade
range of evenly spaced columns corbel
stone bracket projecting from a wall or corner, to support a beam. corbiestepped
squared stones forming steps on a gabel courtyard castle
usually a castle of some size and importance built around a central counrtyard, normally with a tower or keep, gatehouse, ranges of building. counterscarp
outer slope or wall of a ditch, see scarp crenellation
the parapet of a tower or wall with indentations or openings (embrasures or crenelles) alternating with solid projectsion (merlons) crosslet
horizontal arrow slit for crossbows, for wider angles cross wall
internal dividing wall ina great tower crow-steps
step-gabled end ot a roof. Also called corbie-stepped, Scottish curtain
general term for castle walling inner or outer, enclosing a courtyard. Sited between towers or a tower and a gatehouse, giving the appearance of being hung between them dog-legged
with right-angled bends donjon
alternative word for great tower doocot
dovecote, scottish dormer window
window standing up certically from a slope of a roof drawbridge
wooden bridge which could be raised and lowered across a ditch dressing
carved or smoothed stonework around openings and around edges drystane
scottish, dry stonework iwthout mortar dun, dum
An iron age fortified enclosure, built of dry stone, often with galleried wall, dating from the 1st c, althougns ome were occupied until the 16c. May be similiar to a broch, but not always round. e-plan tower house
tower house with a main block and at least two wings at right angles, dating from the 16/17c eaves
the overhanging part of a roof embrasures
battlements, the indentations between the projections (merlons) enciente
the line of th wall encircling a fortress entresol
a low storey within two high ones (mezzanine) fore
structure protecting an entrance, as in forestair forebuilding
structure on the outside wall of a great tower protecting the entrance and all, or part of the approaching staircases. Some forebuildings contained chambers and chapels over the stairs fortalice
a medium sized fortified building, scottish fosse
a ditch fresco
painting on wet plaster freestone
soft, easily worked stone frieze
horizontal band of ornament gable
a vertical wall, frequently triangular, at the end of a pitched roof, often with a chimney gallery
long, narrow passage or room garderobe
latrine, usually built into the wall of the castle garrett
top storey of a tower, within the roof gothic
non-classical medieval architecture. groin
junction of two curved surfaces in a vault gun-loop, gun-port
poening in a wall for a gun hall house
defensible two-storey building containing a hall above a basement hammer-beam
an elaborate type of roof used in gothic and tudor buildints. TO avoid tie-beams across an imposing hall, short timber cantilevers, hammer beams, were used. harling
wet dash, or roughcasting, hurled or dashed onto a rubble wall of a castle orhouse to give additional protection from the weather. heraldic panel
a stone panel where the arms and initials of a noble and his wife were recorded, often with the date hill fort
fortified site often on a summit of a hill or coastel promontory usually with series of ditches and ramparts, many with stone walls. Many later castles were built wihin these fortifications hoarding
covered wooden gallery affixed to the top of the outside of a tower or curtain to defend the castle. It was supported on wooden beams inserted into put-log holes. THe floor was slatted to allow defenders to drop missiles or liquids on the besiegers below. house
a castle, tower or fortalice, especially where these have been extended or modified, also mansions jamb
straight side of a doorway, archway, or window keep
strong stone tower. A citadel or strong point, normally with a vaulted basement, hall, and aditional storeys. OFten with very thick walls, a flush parapet, and mural chambers. l-plan tower house
distinctive scottish form of the tower house in which a wing was added at right angles to the main tower block, affording better protection by covering fire and providing more accomodation. lancet window
a slender pointed arch window light
window pane or window division lintel
horizontal beam of stone or wood positioned across an opening at it's top. loggia
covered open arcade machicolation
projecting part of a stone or brick parapet with holes in the floor, as in hoarding main block
principal part of a castle, usually containing the hall and lord's chamber mangonel
stone-throwing machine worke dby torsion mantlet
mobile woodwn protective shield on wheels merlon
the projections in the battlements between embrasures meutriere
alternative word for murder hole mezzanine
a low storey between to higher ones moat
a water filled ditch motte
a steeply sided flat-topped mound motte and bailey
a defence system, ROman in origin,consisting of an earth mount carrying aowooden tower with a bailey, with an enclosing ditch and palisade mullion
vertical member dividing the lights of a window murder-holes
openings inthe roof of a gateway or part of a gatehouse over an entrance passage, popularly thought to to be used for dropping missiles or shooting weapons at besiegers, but more probably for dropping water ove the wooden parts of the gates newel
the central cupport for a spiral stair niche
a vertical recess in a wall, often to take statue offset
a ledge in a wall followed by a reduced thickness of the wall ogee
a double curve, bending one way and then another oratory
a small private domestic shapel oriel window
projecting curved or polygonal windows oubliette
dungeon or pit under the floor, reached by a trap door. In scotland, usually a pit-prison palace
an old scottish term for a two-storey hall block pantile
a roof tile of curved s-shaped section parapet
a wall for protection at any sudden drop pediment
a small gable over a doorway or window, especially a dormer peel
originally apalisaded court, later a stone tower pend
an open ended passeage though a building, at ground level pendant
a suspended feature of a vault or ceiling, usually ending in a boss pepperpot turret
a bartizan with a conical or pyrmidal roof pilaster buttress
butress with a projection, positioned on a corner or mid-wall pinnacle
small slender turret or spire piscina
a basin with a drani for washing the mass vessels, usually set in a wall pit prison
a dark prison only reached by a heatch in a vault pleasance, pleasaunce
a walled garden plinth
the projecting base of a wall, may be bettered or stepped pointing
exposed mortar joints of masonry or brickwork portcullis
wood and iron grill-pattern gate which ws raise and lowered in grooves by ropes or chains. postern
small gateway, usually ni the side or rear of a castle put-log
beam inserted into a hole in the great tower gatehouse or curtain to support hoarding or scaffolding for building or repairs quatrefoil
four-lobed quoin
dressed corner staone at an angle of a building. rampart
a stone or earth wall surrounding a castle re-entrance
angle that points inward, opposite of a salient relieving arch
arch built into a wall to relieve the thrust of another opening revet
fae with a lyer of stone, stone slabs, for more strength. SOme earth mottes were revetted with stone rib vaulting
arched roof with ribs of traisd moldlings at the groin roll and hollow molding
simple round edgin formed at outside vertical corner of a stone jamb romanesque
pre-gothic style of architecture characterized by rounded arches round
a roofless bartizan royal castle
a castle held by a keeper or constable for the king rubble
uncot or only roughly shaped stone, for walling salient
angle that points outward, opposite a re-entrant sally-port
side gate for defenders to go out on an attack scale-and-platt
stair with short straight flights and turnings at landings. scarp
inner wall or slope of a ditch or moat screen
a wall, wooden or stone, to divide an adjoining kitchen from a hall segmental
less than a semicircle shot-hole
hole for fireamrs, generally smaller than a gunport six-foil
six lobed skew
sloping or sloped stones finishing a gale higher than a roof slight
to damage or destroy a castle to render it unfit for use or occupation as a fortress solar
lord's parlour or private quarters, sometimes adjacent to a great hall, and sometimes over it squinch arch
arched support for an angle turrett that does not reach the ground stepped
recessed in a series of ledges stronghouse
a mansion capable of being defended stoup
vessel for holy water string-course
intermediate course, or modling, projecting from the surface of the wall tempura
form of wall painting directly onto wet plaster tower house
self-contianied house with the main rooms stacked vertically, usulaly with a hall over a vaulted basement and further storeys above. Normally in a small courtyard. t-plam
house or tower where the main block has a wing or tower one one side. transom
horizontal dividing beam in a window trebuchet
stone throwing engine worked by a counterweight trefoil
three lobed turnpike stair
spiral stair around a newel or central post turret
a small tower usually attahed to a building vault
an arched ceiling of stone, tunel or bareel vault is the simplest kind. voussoir
wedge shaped stone forming part of an arch wall-walk
path along the top of a wall, rpotected by a parapet ward
bailey wing-wall
wall descending the slope of a motte yett
a strong hinged gate made of interwoven iron bars walled enclosure
a simple castle, normally where a wall encloses a rock or island with a wooden hall and buildings. ward
courtyard within the walls of a castle, also a bailey z-plan
distinctive scottish form of tower, with corner towers added to opposite corners
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C a s t l e G l o s s a r y
apse | circular or polygonal end of a chapel or tower |
arcading | rows of arches supported on columns, either free standing or attached to a wall (blind arches) |
arch | self-supporting structure over an opening |
architrave | moulding surorunding or framing, a doorway or window |
arrow-loop, arrow-slit | long, narrow, vertical openings in a wall or merlon, though which arrows are shot. Round r triangular ends were for cross-bows, as were the rare horizontal slits, sometimes called crosslets. |
ashlar | blocks of smooth, squared stone of any kind |
astragal | a ba ina window, often wooden, between panes |
attic | the top storey entirely within a gables roof |
aumbrey | originally almry 'a place for alms'. A cupboard in a stone wall used to hold sacred vessels for the mass, but later for domestic use |
bailey, ward | courtyard within the walls of a castle |
ballista | siege engine in the shape of a large bow for shooting missiles, usually iron bolts |
balustrate | ornamental parapet of posts and railing |
barbican | outward continuation of a gateway or entrace, to defent it. |
barmkin | outer defensive walling, Scottish |
barrel vault | semicircular roof of stone or wood |
bartizan | small turret projecting from the corner or flank of a tower or wall, usually at the top |
basement | the lowerst storey of a building sometimes below ground level |
bastle house | small tower house with a living room over a byre |
batter | a slight inward leaning or tilt of a wall from its base upwards, either to add strength, or to make tunnelling by attacking forces more difficult |
bastion | tower or turret projecting from a wall length or at the junction of two walls |
batter | slopeing or sploayed part of a wal at ground level, particularly of a tower |
battlements, crenellation | the parapet of a tower or wall with indentations or openings (embrasures or crenelles) alternating with solid projectsion (merlons) |
bawn | outer defensive walling, Irish |
bay | a section or cmpartment of a building |
bay window | a window projeting froma builint at ground level, wither retangular or polygonal, of one or more stories. |
belfry | tall, moveable wooden tower on wheels, used in sieges |
berm | horizontal spave between a curtain or tower and its moat |
billet | one of a tow of rectangular blocks raised as an ornament in Norman architecture |
boss | a knob or projection to cover the intersection of ribs in a vault |
bow window | a bay window, but curved. |
brattice | hoarding, a projection from a wallhead, normally built of wood, providing machicolation |
broch | a round tower-like structure open in the middle, the double wall of drystone masonry being linked by slabs for form internal galleries at varying levels. FOund in N and W Scotland. |
buttress | projecting pillar added to a wall to strengthen it |
cable-moulding | a NOrman moulding carved like a length of rope |
cap-house | small chamber at the top of a spiral staircase in a tower or turret, leading to the open wall-walk on the roof |
castle | a fortified house or stronghold |
castellations | battlements and turrets |
chevron moulding | moulding in the shape of an inverted V, a Norman feature |
close | a courtyard or passage giving access to a number of buildings |
clunch | hard chalk used as building material. OFten plastered with limewash for durability |
colonnade | range of evenly spaced columns |
corbel | stone bracket projecting from a wall or corner, to support a beam. |
corbiestepped | squared stones forming steps on a gabel |
courtyard castle | usually a castle of some size and importance built around a central counrtyard, normally with a tower or keep, gatehouse, ranges of building. |
counterscarp | outer slope or wall of a ditch, see scarp |
crenellation | the parapet of a tower or wall with indentations or openings (embrasures or crenelles) alternating with solid projectsion (merlons) |
crosslet | horizontal arrow slit for crossbows, for wider angles |
cross wall | internal dividing wall ina great tower |
crow-steps | step-gabled end ot a roof. Also called corbie-stepped, Scottish |
curtain | general term for castle walling inner or outer, enclosing a courtyard. Sited between towers or a tower and a gatehouse, giving the appearance of being hung between them |
dog-legged | with right-angled bends |
donjon | alternative word for great tower |
doocot | dovecote, scottish |
dormer window | window standing up certically from a slope of a roof |
drawbridge | wooden bridge which could be raised and lowered across a ditch |
dressing | carved or smoothed stonework around openings and around edges |
drystane | scottish, dry stonework iwthout mortar |
dun, dum | An iron age fortified enclosure, built of dry stone, often with galleried wall, dating from the 1st c, althougns ome were occupied until the 16c. May be similiar to a broch, but not always round. |
e-plan tower house | tower house with a main block and at least two wings at right angles, dating from the 16/17c |
eaves | the overhanging part of a roof |
embrasures | battlements, the indentations between the projections (merlons) |
enciente | the line of th wall encircling a fortress |
entresol | a low storey within two high ones (mezzanine) |
fore | structure protecting an entrance, as in forestair |
forebuilding | structure on the outside wall of a great tower protecting the entrance and all, or part of the approaching staircases. Some forebuildings contained chambers and chapels over the stairs |
fortalice | a medium sized fortified building, scottish |
fosse | a ditch |
fresco | painting on wet plaster |
freestone | soft, easily worked stone |
frieze | horizontal band of ornament |
gable | a vertical wall, frequently triangular, at the end of a pitched roof, often with a chimney |
gallery | long, narrow passage or room |
garderobe | latrine, usually built into the wall of the castle |
garrett | top storey of a tower, within the roof |
gothic | non-classical medieval architecture. |
groin | junction of two curved surfaces in a vault |
gun-loop, gun-port | poening in a wall for a gun |
hall house | defensible two-storey building containing a hall above a basement |
hammer-beam | an elaborate type of roof used in gothic and tudor buildints. TO avoid tie-beams across an imposing hall, short timber cantilevers, hammer beams, were used. |
harling | wet dash, or roughcasting, hurled or dashed onto a rubble wall of a castle orhouse to give additional protection from the weather. |
heraldic panel | a stone panel where the arms and initials of a noble and his wife were recorded, often with the date |
hill fort | fortified site often on a summit of a hill or coastel promontory usually with series of ditches and ramparts, many with stone walls. Many later castles were built wihin these fortifications |
hoarding | covered wooden gallery affixed to the top of the outside of a tower or curtain to defend the castle. It was supported on wooden beams inserted into put-log holes. THe floor was slatted to allow defenders to drop missiles or liquids on the besiegers below. |
house | a castle, tower or fortalice, especially where these have been extended or modified, also mansions |
jamb | straight side of a doorway, archway, or window |
keep | strong stone tower. A citadel or strong point, normally with a vaulted basement, hall, and aditional storeys. OFten with very thick walls, a flush parapet, and mural chambers. |
l-plan tower house | distinctive scottish form of the tower house in which a wing was added at right angles to the main tower block, affording better protection by covering fire and providing more accomodation. |
lancet window | a slender pointed arch window |
light | window pane or window division |
lintel | horizontal beam of stone or wood positioned across an opening at it's top. |
loggia | covered open arcade |
machicolation | projecting part of a stone or brick parapet with holes in the floor, as in hoarding |
main block | principal part of a castle, usually containing the hall and lord's chamber |
mangonel | stone-throwing machine worke dby torsion |
mantlet | mobile woodwn protective shield on wheels |
merlon | the projections in the battlements between embrasures |
meutriere | alternative word for murder hole |
mezzanine | a low storey between to higher ones |
moat | a water filled ditch |
motte | a steeply sided flat-topped mound |
motte and bailey | a defence system, ROman in origin,consisting of an earth mount carrying aowooden tower with a bailey, with an enclosing ditch and palisade |
mullion | vertical member dividing the lights of a window |
murder-holes | openings inthe roof of a gateway or part of a gatehouse over an entrance passage, popularly thought to to be used for dropping missiles or shooting weapons at besiegers, but more probably for dropping water ove the wooden parts of the gates |
newel | the central cupport for a spiral stair |
niche | a vertical recess in a wall, often to take statue |
offset | a ledge in a wall followed by a reduced thickness of the wall |
ogee | a double curve, bending one way and then another |
oratory | a small private domestic shapel |
oriel window | projecting curved or polygonal windows |
oubliette | dungeon or pit under the floor, reached by a trap door. In scotland, usually a pit-prison |
palace | an old scottish term for a two-storey hall block |
pantile | a roof tile of curved s-shaped section |
parapet | a wall for protection at any sudden drop |
pediment | a small gable over a doorway or window, especially a dormer |
peel | originally apalisaded court, later a stone tower |
pend | an open ended passeage though a building, at ground level |
pendant | a suspended feature of a vault or ceiling, usually ending in a boss |
pepperpot turret | a bartizan with a conical or pyrmidal roof |
pilaster buttress | butress with a projection, positioned on a corner or mid-wall |
pinnacle | small slender turret or spire |
piscina | a basin with a drani for washing the mass vessels, usually set in a wall |
pit prison | a dark prison only reached by a heatch in a vault |
pleasance, pleasaunce | a walled garden |
plinth | the projecting base of a wall, may be bettered or stepped |
pointing | exposed mortar joints of masonry or brickwork |
portcullis | wood and iron grill-pattern gate which ws raise and lowered in grooves by ropes or chains. |
postern | small gateway, usually ni the side or rear of a castle |
put-log | beam inserted into a hole in the great tower gatehouse or curtain to support hoarding or scaffolding for building or repairs |
quatrefoil | four-lobed |
quoin | dressed corner staone at an angle of a building. |
rampart | a stone or earth wall surrounding a castle |
re-entrance | angle that points inward, opposite of a salient |
relieving arch | arch built into a wall to relieve the thrust of another opening |
revet | fae with a lyer of stone, stone slabs, for more strength. SOme earth mottes were revetted with stone |
rib vaulting | arched roof with ribs of traisd moldlings at the groin |
roll and hollow molding | simple round edgin formed at outside vertical corner of a stone jamb |
romanesque | pre-gothic style of architecture characterized by rounded arches |
round | a roofless bartizan |
royal castle | a castle held by a keeper or constable for the king |
rubble | uncot or only roughly shaped stone, for walling |
salient | angle that points outward, opposite a re-entrant |
sally-port | side gate for defenders to go out on an attack |
scale-and-platt | stair with short straight flights and turnings at landings. |
scarp | inner wall or slope of a ditch or moat |
screen | a wall, wooden or stone, to divide an adjoining kitchen from a hall |
segmental | less than a semicircle |
shot-hole | hole for fireamrs, generally smaller than a gunport |
six-foil | six lobed |
skew | sloping or sloped stones finishing a gale higher than a roof |
slight | to damage or destroy a castle to render it unfit for use or occupation as a fortress |
solar | lord's parlour or private quarters, sometimes adjacent to a great hall, and sometimes over it |
squinch arch | arched support for an angle turrett that does not reach the ground |
stepped | recessed in a series of ledges |
stronghouse | a mansion capable of being defended |
stoup | vessel for holy water |
string-course | intermediate course, or modling, projecting from the surface of the wall |
tempura | form of wall painting directly onto wet plaster |
tower house | self-contianied house with the main rooms stacked vertically, usulaly with a hall over a vaulted basement and further storeys above. Normally in a small courtyard. |
t-plam | house or tower where the main block has a wing or tower one one side. |
transom | horizontal dividing beam in a window |
trebuchet | stone throwing engine worked by a counterweight |
trefoil | three lobed |
turnpike stair | spiral stair around a newel or central post |
turret | a small tower usually attahed to a building |
vault | an arched ceiling of stone, tunel or bareel vault is the simplest kind. |
voussoir | wedge shaped stone forming part of an arch |
wall-walk | path along the top of a wall, rpotected by a parapet |
ward | bailey |
wing-wall | wall descending the slope of a motte |
yett | a strong hinged gate made of interwoven iron bars |
walled enclosure | a simple castle, normally where a wall encloses a rock or island with a wooden hall and buildings. |
ward | courtyard within the walls of a castle, also a bailey |
z-plan | distinctive scottish form of tower, with corner towers added to opposite corners |