Glossary of Architectural and Building Terminology - H

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Half Round - A half round is a moulding of semicircular section.
©2007 The Probert Encyclopaedia. Data used under license.

Half-Timbered - Half-timbered refers to buildings constructed of a timber frame, having the spaces filled in with masonry. This style of decoration was extensively practised in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries and in England during the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I and enjoyed a revival during the late 19th century.
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Halfpace - A halfpace is a platform of a staircase where the stair turns back in exactly the reverse direction of the lower flight.
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Hanging Rail - A hanging rail is a rail of a door or casement to which hinges are attached.
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Hanging Stile - A hanging stile is a stile of a door to which hinges are secured or the upright of a window frame to which casements are hinged, or in which the pulleys for sash windows are fastened.
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Hanging-Buttress - A hanging-buttress is a buttress supported on a corbel.
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Hanse - A hanse is a part of an elliptical or many-cantered arch which has the shorter radius and immediately adjoins the impost.
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Hard Finish - A hard finish is a smooth finishing coat of hard fine plaster applied to the surface of rough plastering.
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Hardboard - Hardboard is a type of building board composed of wood pulp, wood fibre or other vegetable fibre mixed with fillers and densely compacted under pressure/ Hardboard is used for lining walls and ceilings, and also for shop fitting and the erection of exhibition stands
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Harmony - In decorating, harmony refers to a scheme or colour combination which presents a pleasing appearance because of its use of colours which are close to one another on the colour circle and have been used in their proper tonal order.
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Haunches of an Arch - The haunches of an arch are the parts on each side of the crown of an arch. Each haunch may be considered as from one half to two thirds of the half arch.
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Header - A header is a brick or stone laid with its shorter face or head in the surface of the wall. In framing, a header is the piece of timber fitted between two trimmers, and supported by them, and carrying the ends of the tailpieces.
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Heading Course - A heading course is a course consisting only of headers.
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Headway - A headway is a clear space under an arch, girder, or the like, sufficient to allow easy passing underneath.
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Heel - A heel is the lower end of a timber in a frame, as a post or rafter. In the United States the term specifically refers to the obtuse angle of the lower end of a rafter set sloping.
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Helix - A helix is a caulicule or little volute under the abacus of the Corinthian capital.
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Hemiglyph - A hemiglyph is a half channel or groove in the edge of the triglyph in the Doric order.
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Hexastyle - Hexastyle describes a structure as having six columns in front.
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Hick-Joint - In masonry, a hick-joint is a species of pointing in which mortar is inserted between the courses and joints of a wall, and made truly level or smooth with the surface.
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Hip - A hip is the external angle formed by the meeting of two sloping sides or skirts of a roof, which have their wall plates running in different directions.
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Hip Knob - A hip knob is a finial, ball, or other ornament at the intersection of the hip rafters and the ridge.
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Hip Moulding - A hip moulding is a moulding on the hip of a roof, covering the hip joint of the slating or other roofing.
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Hip Rafter - A hip rafter is a rafter extending from the wall plate to the ridge in the angle of a hip roof.
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Hip Roof - A hip roof is a roof having sloping ends and sloping sides.
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Hip Tile - A hip tile is a tile made to cover the hip of a roof.
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Hoarding - A hoarding is a screen of boards enclosing a house and materials while builders are at work.
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Hogback - A hogback is an upward curve or very obtuse angle in the upper surface of any member, as of a timber laid horizontally. It is the opposite of a camber.
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Hollow Newel - A hollow newel is an opening in the centre of a winding staircase in place of a newel post, the stairs being supported by the wall. The term is also used to describe the string piece or rail winding around the well of such a staircase.
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Hood Moulding - A hood moulding is a projecting moulding over the head of an arch, forming the outermost member of the archivolt.
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Housing - A housing is a space taken out of one solid, to admit the insertion of part of another, as the end of one timber in the side of another. The term also describes a niche for a statue.
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Hyperthyrion - A hyperthyrion is that part of the architrave which is over a door or window.
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Hypostyle - The term hypostyle is applied to something resting upon columns or constructed by means of columns. The term is especially applied to the great hall at Karnak.
©2007 The Probert Encyclopaedia. Data used under license.