Looking at Buildings

Glossary

Skew arch: An arch spanning responds not diametrically opposed; hence also skew bridge.
Slab block: A multi-storey block with flats approached from corridors or galleries from service cores at intervals or towers at the ends (plan also used for offices, hotels etc.)
Slate-hanging: Covering of overlapping slates on a wall, which is then said to be slate-hung. Tile-hanging is similar.
Slop stone: (Irish): Drainage stone designed to carry kitchen waste through the thickness of a wall.
Slype: In a greater medieval church, a covered way or passage leading east from the cloisters between transept and chapter house.
Snecked: Of masonry, with courses broken by smaller stones (snecks).
Soffit: (lit. ceiling): Underside of an arch (also called an intrados), lintel, etc. Soffit roll: medieval roll moulding on a soffit.
Solar: Private upper chamber in a medieval house, accessible from the high or dais end of the great hall.
Solomonic columns: Columns with twisted spiral shafts, called after columns in Rome supposed to have come from Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. Also called Salomonic columns, barley-sugar columns.
Sopraporta: Painting or relief above an internal door. Also called an overdoor.