l^iG

GLOSSARY.
upright between two posts -u-hose bearing is too great, serving, together with them, to
sustain some heavy weight. The term is also applied to a piece of timber raised upright
under the ridge of a building, and in which are jointed the small timbers. Also to the
arbor or principal part of a machine on which it turns vertically, as that of a crane.
PuHBECK Stone. A species of stone obtained from the island of Purbeck in Dorsetshii'e,
of avery hard texture, and used for paving. See Pavement.
PuRFLED. (Fr. Pourfiler.) Ornamented work in stone, or othrr material, representing
embroidery, drapery, or lace work.
Purlin. A horizontal piece of timber lying generally on the principal rafters of a roof to
lessen the bearings of the common rafters. Locally called side timbers, and side wavers.
PuTEAL, The marginal stone of a well. The celebrated one of Scribonins Li bo was
erected by order of the senate to mark the spot where a thunderbolt had fallen near the
statues of Marsyas and Janus by the Comitia.
PaTLoa. See Ledger.
Putty. A sort of paste consisting of whiting, with or without a small portion of white
lead, and linseed oil, beaten together until it assumes a kind of tough consistency like
dough. In this state it is used by glaziers for fixing in the squares of glass to sash
windows, etc., and also by house-painters to stop up holes and cavities in woodwork
before painting.
PuzzuoLANA. A grey-coloured earth deriving its name from Puzzuoli, whence it wa3
originally brought. It is a volcanic matter found in many other parts of Italy, and
generally in the neighbourhood of volcanoes active or extinct, from which it has been
thrown out in the form of ashes. It immediately hardens Avhcn mixed with one-tliird
of its weight of lime and water, forming an admirable water cement.
Pycxostyle. (Gr. niiK;'os, close, StuAos, column.) See Colonnade.
Pylon. The mass of building on either side of the entrance to an Egyptian temple. It
is pyramidal in form and sometimes as much as 100 feet in length and .32 feet in width.
Pyramid. (Gr. ITup, fire.) A solid' standing on a square, triangular, or polygonal basin,
and terminating at top in a point; or a body whose base is a regular rectilinear figure
and whose sides are plain triangles, their scvcr.il verticles meeting together in one
point. It is defined by Euclid as a solid figure consisting of several triangles whose
bases are all in the same plane and have one common vertex.
The principal properties of pyramids are as follow:1. All pyramids and cones
standing on the same base p.n'l having the same altitude are equal. 2. A tri.ingular
pyramid is the third part of a prism, standing on the same base and of the same altitude.
3. Hence, since every multangular may be divided into triangulars, every pyramid is
the third part of a prism standing on the same base and of the same altitude. 4. If a
pyramid be cut by a plane parallel to its base, the sections will be similar to the base.
5. All pyramids, prisms, cylinders, etc., are in a ratio compounded of their bases and
altitudes
;
the bases therefore being equal they are in proportion to their altitudes, and
the altitudes being equal, they are in proportion to their bases. 6. Similar pyramids,
prisms, cylinders, cones, etc., are in a triplicate ratio of tlieir homologous sides.
7. Equal pyramids, etc., recipracate their bases and altitudes, i.e. the altitude of one is
to that of the other, as the base of the one is to the base of the other. 8. A sphere is
equal to a pyramid whose base is equal to the surface, and its height to the radius
of the sphere. See Frustum.
The name of the structure erected over a tomb, as commonly seen in Egypt.
Pyramidion. The small flat p>yramid which terminates the top of an obelisk.
Quadra. (Ttal.) A square border or frame round a biisso-relicvo, panel, etc. ; the term is
not (-trictly applicable to any circular border. Tlie term is also applied to the bands or
fillets of the Ionic base on each side of the scotia ; and also to the plinth or lower mem-
ber of the podium.
Quadrangle. Any figure with four angles and four sides. This term is in architecture
in England applied to the inner square or rectangular court of a building, as in the
college courts of Oxford, etc.
Quadrant. (Lat.) The quarter of a circle, or an arc of it contiiining ninety degrees
within its enclosed angle.
Quadrature. (Lat.) The determination of the area of a figure in a square, or even any
other rectilinear form.
QuADREL. An artificial stone perfectly square, whence its name, much used formerly by
tlie Italian arcliitects. Qnadrels were made of a chalky or whitish and pliable earth,
and dried in the shade for at least two years.
QuADRiFoRios. (Lat.) In ancient architecture, foiling doors whoso height was divided into
two parts. When they opened in one height, they were termed /orrs valvata or valva.
QuADRiLATr.RAL. In geometry, a figure whose perimeter consists of four right lines
mak-
ing four angles, whence it is also called a quadrangular figure.