cross vault

Also cross vault·ing,
Also
Or cross-vault

[kraws-vawlt, kros‐]

noun

Architecture.

1. a vault or ceiling created by the intersection of vaults.

Other Word Forms

• cross-vaulted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cross vault¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Cross′-vault′ing, vaulting formed by the intersection of two or more simple vaults; Cross′way, a way that crosses another; Cross′-wind, an unfavourable wind, a side-wind.—adv.

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Moreton Moore points out that the bicylinder also has applications in architecture: “The Romans and Normans, in using the barrel vault to span their buildings, were familiar with the geometry of intersecting cylinders where two such vaults crossed one another to form a cross vault.”

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It was for example attempted to vault the nave with a cross vault, embracing two bays of the arcade to one of the vault, but the wall space so gained was particularly ill suited to the clerestory windows, as may be seen by examining the nave of St. Stephen’s at Caen.

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It was soon found to be possible to introduce a cross vault running at right angles to the original one; and where such an intersecting vault occurs the side walls of the original vault may be dispensed with, for so much of their length as the newly-added vault spans.

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The central aisle has a pointed barrel vault springing from a little above the aisle arches, while the aisles themselves have an ordinary cross vault.

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