Looking at Buildings

Glossary

Cursus: A long avenue defined by two parallel earthen banks with ditches outside.
Curtain wall: A non-load-bearing external wall applied to a framed structure, in architecture of the 20th century onwards. Also a connecting wall between the towers of a castle.
Curvilinear tracery: Bar tracery with uninterrupted flowing curves, typical of the 14th century; also called flowing tracery.
Cusps: Projecting points formed by curves within the arches or tracery of Gothic architecture. A Kentish cusp or split cusp has a v-shaped opening set within the apex. In sub-cusping the sides of the cusps have smaller cusps, usually on a recessed plane.
Cutwater: A curved- or angle-ended stage at the bottom of a bridge pier.
Cyclopean masonry: Large irregular polygonal stones, smooth and finely jointed.
Cyma recta and cyma reversa: Classical mouldings with double curves.