Looking at Buildings

Glossary

Stretcher: A brick laid with its long side outermost.
Stretcher bond: Brickwork with only the stretchers (long sides) of the bricks showing.
String: A sloping member holding the ends of the treads and risers of a staircase. A closed string has a continuous upper edge and covers the ends of the treads and risers. An open string is cut into the shape of the treads and risers.
String course: Horizontal course or moulding projecting from the surface of a wall.
Strut: Vertical or oblique timber between two members of a truss, not directly supporting longitudinal timbers. On a tie-beam, queen-struts are in pairs, a king-strut is placed centrally; compare queenposts, kingpost.
Stucco: A durable lime plaster, sometimes incorporating marble dust. It can be shaped into ornamental or architectural features, or used externally as a protective coating.
Studs: Subsidiary vertical timbers of a timber-framed wall or partition. Close studding has closely set studs of equal size.
Stugged: (Scots): Of masonry, hacked or picked as a key for rendering; used as a surface finish in the 19th century.
Stupa: Buddhist shrine, circular in plan.
Stylobate: Top of the solid platform on which a classical colonnade stands.