squinch (noun)

[prettygoodword]

squinch (skwinch) - n., a small arch, corbeling, or the like built diagonally across the interior angle between two walls.


Such as used to cut the corners from a square tower and support a circular (or octagonal) dome on top. The straight-line early form of a pendative. Developed in Persia, used in Middle Eastern, Byzantine, and especially Islamic architecture. Alteration from around 1500 of earlier scunch or scuncheon, from Middle English sconchon, from Middle French escoinson, esconchon, from es-, out of (from Latin ex-) + coin, angle, wedge (modern quoin). No squinching your eyes shut at this one.

---L.

Comments

[calenorn.livejournal.com]

I thought that was the green guy who stole Christmas.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

No, that's a plinth.