GOTHIC ARCHITECTURAL TERMS

Tracery –ornamental work of branchlike lines especially the lacy openwork in the upper part of
the Gothic window

Curvilinear tracery-Gothic tracery

Plate tracery- early Gothic
tracery formed by pierced slabs
of stone set on edge. The
design is based on the shape
and disposition of the openings.
Also called perforated tracery.
characterized by pattern of irregular
boldly curved forms. Also called
flowing tracery
Reticulated tracery-gothic tracery
consisting mainly of a netlike
arrangement of repeated geometric
figures. Also called net tracery

Intersecting tracery-
characterized by intersecting
traceries
Geometric tracery-characterized by a
pattern of geometric shapes such as
circles and foils
Perpendicular tracery- predominantly
vertical gothic tracery having mullions
rising to the curve of the arch, crossed
at the intervals by horizontal transom.
Also called rectilinear tracery

Foil –any of several arcs or rounded spaces divided by cusps and tangent to the interior of a larger arc as of an arch
or a circle; trefoil- having 3 foils; quatrefoil-4 foils; cinquefoil-5 foils; multifoil- more than 5 foils
Foilation-ornamentation of an archway, window
Or other openings with foils or representations
Of foliage
Cusp –a pointed projection formed by two
Intersecting arcs used especially to vary the
outlines of the intradoses or to form foils.

Cuspidation – decoration with cusp.

foil

cusp

Quatrefoil- four foils Cinquefoil-five foils

Trefoil-three foil
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 GOTHIC ARCHITECTURAL TERMS

Vaults-an arched covering in stone or brick over any building. The use of barrel vault was seen
in Assyrian times at Tel Rimah during the 6th century.
Groin – one of the curved lines of edges along which two intersecting vaults meet.

Web- a surface framed by the ribs of the ribbed vault.

Rib – any of the several arch-like members supporting a vault at groin, defining its distinct surfaces or dividing
those surfaces into panels.

Key – the keystone at the crown of the arch or at the intersection of two or more vaulting rib.

.
Ridge rib- a horizontal rib
marking the crown of a
vaulting compartment

Arc doubleau- a rib spanning the

longitudinal axis of a rib vault and
dividing it into bays or compartments.
Also called transverse rib.

Tierceron- a rib spanning form a point

Ogive- a rib
of support on either side of the ogives
crossing a
or transverse ribs of a rib vault. Also
compartment of
called intermediate rib
a rib vault on a
Fomeret- a rib against the wall, diagonal. Also
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the called diagonal
rib vault. Also called wall vault. rib, groin rib.

Pendant- a sculptured ornament

suspended from the roof truss, vault
or ceiling. Also called drop. Lierne- an
ornamental vaulting
rib other than one
springing from a pier
or a ridge rib.

Rampart vault-a vault springing from

Barrel vault- a vault having a
semi circular cross section. Also
called cradle vault, tunnel vault,
wagon vault.
Conical vault-a vault having a circular an abutment higher at onside than the
cross section that is larger at one end other.
than the other.
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Annular vault- a barrel vault
having a circular plan in the
shape of a ring.
Rib vault- a vault supported by
or decorated with arched
diagonal ribs. Also called ribbed
vault. Types: quadripartite,
sexpartite, fan vault
Fan vaulting – vault composed
of a number of concave
conoldal sections, usually four,
springing from the corners of
the vaulting compartment,
often decorated with ribs that
radiate from the springing line
of the framework of a fan
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURAL TERMS
Groin vault- a compound vault Cloister vault-a compound vault
formed by the perpendicular formed by four coves meeting along
intersection of two vaults, forming diagonal vertical planes. Also called
arched diagonal arrises called groin. cove vault
Also called cross vault.
web
Sexpartite vault- a rib vault divided
into six compartments by two diagonal
ribs and three transverse ribs.
Quadripartite vault- a rib vault
divided into four parts by intersecting
diagonal web.
Stilted vault- a compound vault having
Tripartite vault- compound for
covering a triangular space, formed a narrower transverse vault springing
from a higher level so that the ridges
by the intersection of three barrel
vaults. are at the same height.
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 GOTHIC ARCHITECTURAL TERMS

Rose window- a circular

wheel window- a circular window
window usually of stained glass
whose mullions converge like spokes
and decorated with tracery
of a wheel. Also called Catherine
symmetrical about the centre.
window or marigold window.
Stained glass –glass colored or
stained having pigment baked
onto its surface by having
various metallic oxides fused Lancet Arch- a pointed arch having
while in molten state two centers and radii greater than the
span

Fleche –a slender wooden spire on

Spire-a tall acutely tapering the roof especially at the crossing of a
pyramidal structure Gothic church. Western towers- paired towers
surmounting a steeple or a constructed on the western part of the
tower. Gothic Church.

Niche –a recess on the wall,

hollowed like a shell for statue
or ornament Boss –a projecting ornament at the
intersection of the ribs of the ceiling
whether vaulted or flat .

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 GOTHIC ARCHITECTURAL TERMS

CATHEDRAL- the principal church of a diocese containing the bishop’s throne called the cathedra

PARTS OF GOTHIC CATHEDRAL

Choir – the part of the church occupied by the singers of a choir, usually part of the chancel

Retrochoir-a separate division behind the choir or high altar of a large church

Lady chapel- a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary usually located behind the high altar of a cathedral at the
extremity of the apse

High altar- the main altar of the church

Presbytery- the part of the church reserved for the officiating clergy

Close-an enclosed space especially the land surrounding or beside the cathedral

Slype- a covered passage especially one between the transept and chapter house of a cathedral. Also alip

Chapter house- the place where the chapter of the cathedral or monastery meets, usually a building attached to
or a hall forming part of the cathedral or monastery

Chapter-an assembly of the monks in a monastery, or the members of a religious orders

Paradise- an atrium or cloister beside the church

Cloister- covered walk having an arcade or colonnade on one side opening onto a courtyard

Garth- a courtyard or a quadrangle enclosed by a cloister. Also called cloister garth

Allure- a walk or a passage along a cloister or behind the parapets of a castle.

Galillee- small porch used as a chapel for penitents at the west end of some medieval and English churches. Also
galillee porch

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 GOTHIC ARCHITECTURAL TERMS

Crypt- an underground chamber or vault used as a burial place, especially one beneath the main floor of the
church.

Chantry – a chapel endowed for saying of masses and prayers for the souls of the founders or of persons named by
them.

Labyrinth- a mazelike pattern inlaid in the pavement of a medieval church.

Chapel- a separately dedicated part of the church for private prayer, meditation, or small religious services.

Chevet-the rounded east end of a Gothic Cathedral including the apse of the ambulatory.

Ambulatory- an aisle encircling the end of the choir or chancel of the church. Also called deambulatory.

Rood- a crucifix symbolizing the cross on which Christ was crucifix, especially a large one set above the entrance to
the choir or chancel of a medieval church.

Rood screen- a screen often elaborately adorned and properly surmounted by rood, separating the chancm the
nave of a medieval church.

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GOTHIC ARCHITECTURAL TERMS