GOTHIC ARCHITECTURAL TERMS
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE VOCABULARY
Tracery –ornamental work of branchlike lines especially the lacy openwork in the upper part of
the Gothic window
Plate tracery- early Gothic
tracery formed by pierced
slabs of stone set on edge.
The design is based on the
shape and disposition of
the openings. Also called
perforated tracery.
Intersecting tracery-
characterized by
intersecting traceries
Crockets
Curvilinear tracery-Gothic tracery characterized
by pattern of irregular boldly curved forms. Also
called flowing tracery
Geometric tracery-characterized by a pattern of
geometric shapes such as circles and foils
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Reticulated tracery-gothic
tracery consisting mainly of a
netlike arrangement of
repeated geometric figures.
Also called net tracery
Perpendicular tracery-
predominantly vertical gothic
tracery having mullions rising to
the curve of the arch, crossed
at the intervals by horizontal
transom. Also called rectilinear
tracery
Finial
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Triforium gallery- space

above the nave

Pinnacle - architectural element

originally forming the cap or
crown of a buttress or small
turret, but afterwards used
on parapets at the corners
of towers and in many other
situations. The pinnacle
looks like a small spire. It
was mainly used in Gothic
architecture

Chimera a statue which is formed of

various monstrous body
parts but is there purely for
decorative purposes.

Foil –any of several arcs or rounded spaces divided by cusps and tangent to the interior of a larger arc as of an arch
or a circle; trefoil- having 3 foils; quatrefoil-4 foils; cinquefoil-5 foils; multifoil- more than 5 foils
Foilation-ornamentation of an archway, window
Or other openings with foils or representations
Of foliage
Cusp –a pointed projection formed by two
Intersecting arcs used especially to vary the
outlines of the intradoses or to form foils.

Cuspidation – decoration with cusp.

foil

cusp

Quatrefoil- four foils Cinquefoil-five foils

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Trefoil-three foil

Vaults-an arched covering in stone or brick over any building. The use of barrel vault was seen
in Assyrian times at Tel Rimah during the 6th century.
Groin – one of the curved lines of edges along which two intersecting vaults meet.

Web- a surface framed by the ribs of the ribbed vault.

Rib – any of the several arch-like members supporting a vault at groin, defining its distinct surfaces or dividing
those surfaces into panels.

Key – the keystone at the crown of the arch or at the intersection of two or more vaulting rib.

.
Ridge rib- a horizontal rib
marking the crown of a
vaulting compartment

Arc doubleau- a rib spanning the

longitudinal axis of a rib vault and
dividing it into bays or compartments.
Also called transverse rib.

Tierceron- a rib spanning form a point

Ogive- a rib
of support on either side of the ogives
crossing a
or transverse ribs of a rib vault. Also
compartment of
called intermediate rib
a rib vault on a
Fomeret- a rib against the wall, diagonal. Also
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the called diagonal
rib vault. Also called wall vault. rib, groin rib.

Pendant- a sculptured ornament

suspended from the roof truss, vault
or ceiling. Also called drop. Lierne- an
ornamental vaulting
rib other than one
springing from a pier
or a ridge rib.

Barrel vault- a vault
having a semi circular
cross section. Also called
Conical vault-a vault having a circular cross Rampart vault-a vault springing
section that is larger at one end than the other. from an abutment higher at
onside than the other.
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cradle vault, tunnel vault,
wagon vault.
Annular vault- a barrel
vault having a circular plan
in the shape of a ring.
Rib vault- a vault
supported by or decorated
with arched diagonal ribs.
Also called ribbed vault.
Types: quadripartite,
sexpartite, fan vault
Fan vaulting – vault
composed of a number of
concave conoldal sections,
usually four, springing
from the corners of the
vaulting compartment,
often decorated with ribs
that radiate from the
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURAL TERMS
Groin vault- a compound vault formed by the
perpendicular intersection of two vaults, forming
arched diagonal arrises called groin. Also called
cross vault.
web
Quadripartite vault- a rib vault divided into four
parts by intersecting diagonal web.
Tripartite vault- compound for covering a
triangular space, formed by the intersection of
three barrel vaults.
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Cloister vault-a compound
vault formed by four coves
meeting along diagonal vertical
planes. Also called cove vault
Sexpartite vault- a rib vault
divided into six compartments
by two diagonal ribs and three
transverse ribs.
Stilted vault- a compound vault
having a narrower transverse
vault springing from a higher
level so that the ridges are at
the same height.
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springing line of the

framework of a fan

wheel window- a circular window whose mullions

Rose window- a circular converge like spokes of a wheel. Also called
window usually of stained Catherine window or marigold window.
glass and decorated with
tracery symmetrical about
the centre.

Stained glass –glass

colored or stained having
pigment baked onto its Lancet Arch- a pointed arch
surface by having various having two centers and radii
metallic oxides fused greater than the span
while in molten state

Fleche –a slender wooden spire on the roof

especially at the crossing of a Gothic church.
Spire-a tall acutely Western towers- paired towers
tapering pyramidal constructed on the western
structure surmounting a part of the Gothic Church.
steeple or a tower.

Niche –a recess on the

wall, hollowed like a shell

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for statue or ornament Boss –a projecting ornament at the intersection

of the ribs of the ceiling whether vaulted or flat .

CATHEDRAL- the principal church of a diocese containing the bishop’s throne called the cathedra

PARTS OF GOTHIC CATHEDRAL

Choir – the part of the church occupied by the singers of a choir, usually part of the chancel

Retrochoir-a separate division behind the choir or high altar of a large church

Lady chapel- a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary usually located behind the high altar of a cathedral at the
extremity of the apse

High altar- the main altar of the church

Presbytery- the part of the church reserved for the officiating clergy

Close-an enclosed space especially the land surrounding or beside the cathedral

Slype- a covered passage especially one between the transept and chapter house of a cathedral. Also alip

Chapter house- the place where the chapter of the cathedral or monastery meets, usually a building attached to
or a hall forming part of the cathedral or monastery

Chapter-an assembly of the monks in a monastery, or the members of a religious orders

Paradise- an atrium or cloister beside the church

Cloister- covered walk having an arcade or colonnade on one side opening onto a courtyard
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Garth- a courtyard or a quadrangle enclosed by a cloister. Also called cloister garth

Allure- a walk or a passage along a cloister or behind the parapets of a castle.

Galillee- small porch used as a chapel for penitents at the west end of some medieval and English churches. Also
galillee porch

chapels

apse

labyrinth

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 GOTHIC ARCHITECTURAL TERMS

ambo

Labyrinth

Crypt- an underground chamber or vault used as a burial place, especially one beneath the main floor of the
church.

Chantry – a chapel endowed for saying of masses and prayers for the souls of the founders or of persons named by
them.

Labyrinth- a mazelike pattern inlaid in the pavement of a medieval church.

Chapel- a separately dedicated part of the church for private prayer, meditation, or small religious services.

Chevet-the rounded east end of a Gothic Cathedral including the apse of the ambulatory.

Ambulatory- an aisle encircling the end of the choir or chancel of the church. Also called deambulatory.

Rood- a crucifix symbolizing the cross on which Christ was crucifix, especially a large one set above the entrance to
the choir or chancel of a medieval church.

Rood screen- a screen often elaborately adorned and properly surmounted by rood, separating the chancm the
nave of a medieval church.

Parts of Castle

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 GOTHIC ARCHITECTURAL TERMS

protect Archers whilst

they fired upon
besieging armies
1. Arrow slit

was built as an
additional outpost that
served as extra
protection to the Castle
2. Barbican entrance

were small defensive

walls at the top of a
castle's main walls

merlon consisted of parapet wall

crenel with regular indentation

to hide soldiers
3. Embattlement
/crenellation crenel -the lowest
portion let soldiers
discharge arrows/missile
at lowest portion

merlon-the highest
portion hide the soldiers

4. Drawbridge Draw bridge -was

made of heavy wood
that was commonly
metal plated. A bridge,
5. Castle especially one over a
gatehouse castle's moat , that
is hinged at one end so
that it may be raised to
prevent people's
crossing or to allow
vessels to pass under
it

deep, wide canal

surrounding a castle,
fort, or town, typically
6. Moat filled with water and
intended as a
defense against
attack.

the outer defense of a

castle or walled city,
especially a double
tower above a gate
7. Barbican
or drawbridge.

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a strong underground
prison cell, especially
in a castle
8. Dungeon

9. Keep/donjon strongest portion of

the fortification of a
castle, the place of
last resort in case of
siege ...

an opening in a
medieval castle for
dropping rocks or
boiling water on an
enemy. It's like a
10. Machicolation sneaky window in a
castle that lets
people drop stuff on
their enemies to
keep them from
coming in.

A murder hole or
meurtrière is a hole
in the ceiling of a
gateway or
passageway in a
fortification through
which the defenders
could shoot, throw or
11. Murder holes
pour harmful
substances or
objects such as
rocks, arrows,
scalding water, hot
sand, quicklime, or
boiling oil, down on
attackers.

highly effective
quickly activated
12. Portcullis
additional
defenses for a
castles main
Gate entrance
defensive
boundary/wall of
a castle
13. Ramparts

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Bailey a castle
courtyard enclosed
by walls where most
of the day-to-day
activities would take
place – the stables,
kitchens, storerooms,
14. Bailey living quarters of the
people associated with
the castle (soldiers and
servants, for example),
and perhaps a chapel
would have been
located there.

a small tower that

projects vertically
from the wall of a
building such as a
medieval castle.
Turrets were used to
15. Turrets
provide a projecting
defensive position
allowing covering fire
to the adjacent wall
in the days of
military fortification.

16. Castle parts

MEDIEVAL CASTLE PARTS

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GOTHIC ARCHITECTURAL TERMS

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