dosseret

[dos-uh-ret]

noun

Architecture.

1. a supplementary capital or thickened abacus, as in Byzantine architecture.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dosseret¹

1860–65; < French, diminutive of dossier dosser ¹

Example Sentences

"From abacus to zigzag via dosseret, hoodmould and squinch..."iPhone / iPad Freckleface Strawberry is a character dreamed up by Hollywood star Julianne Moore for a series of children's books.

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Thus the contour of the mouldings, the carrying of the capitals and imposts, the dosseret above the capital, and the scheme of decoration of the interior with marble casing on the lower portion of the walls and mosaic above, are all Byzantine.

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Instead of the classic entablature, the monolithic columns of the nave carry arches both on the ground and upper storeys; above the capitals, however, we find a new feature known as the dosseret, already employed in the two cisterns referred to, a cubical block projecting beyond the capital on each side and enabling it to carry a thicker wall above.

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In later examples, when the aisles were vaulted, the dosseret served a still more important purpose, in carrying the springing of the vaults.

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