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Glossary

Spire
Tall pyramidal or conical feature crowning a tower or turret. Broach: starting from a square base, then carried into an octagonal section by means of triangular faces. Splayed-foot: variation of the broach form, found in England principally in the south-east, in which the four cardinal faces are splayed out near their bases, to cover the corners, while oblique (or intermediate) faces taper away to a point. Needle spire: thin spire rising from the centre of a tower roof, well inside the parapet.
Spirelet
Slender spire on the ridge of a roof. Also called a fleche.
Splat
A flat board with shaped sides, especially a baluster (called a splat baluster).
Splayed
Of an opening: wider on one face of the wall than the other.
Splayed-foot spire
A variant of the broach spire, found in England principally in the south-east, in which the four cardinal faces are splayed out near their bases, to cover the corners, while oblique (or intermediate) faces taper away to a point.
Split cusp
In tracery in the Gothic style, a cusp or curved projection which has a v-shaped opening set within the apex. Also called a Kentish cusp.
Spring or springing
Level at which at arch or vault rises from its supports. Springers: the lowest stones of an arch or vaulting rib.
Sprocket
In a roof, a short timber placed on the back and at the foot of a rafter to form projecting eaves; hence a sprocketed roof.
Spur
Diagonal projection at the base of a moulding, column, or buttress (called a spur buttress).
Square panel
A form of timber-framed wall in which the main uprights (posts) and horizontals (rails) form large square or near-square compartments. Compare close studding.