horseshoe arch

American  

noun

1. an arch with the intrados widening above the springing and then narrowing to a rounded crown.

---

horseshoe arch British  

noun

1. an arch formed in the shape of a horseshoe, esp as used in Moorish architecture

---

Etymology

Origin of horseshoe arch

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

horseshoe arch

Presently I came to a great Moorish gateway, a dark mass of stone, battlemented, with a lofty horseshoe arch.

From The Land of The Blessed Virgin; Sketches and Impressions in Andalusia by Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset)

It is, perhaps, worthy of record that the inverted horseshoe arch more nearly approximates what is commonly considered the Moorish form; or, to give it a wider locale, Mediterranean, at least.

From The Cathedrals of Northern France by McManus, Blanche

Under the huge leaning elms, which people who trust guide-books attribute to Wellington, I wandered until I came to a great red tower, with a horseshoe arch for entrance.

From The Car of Destiny by Both, Armand

The Moors of north Africa, however, never employed it, preferring the horseshoe arch which they brought into Spain and developed in the mosque of Cordova.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 4 "Aram, Eugene" to "Arcueil" by Various

There is an extremely curious canopy, being a sort of horseshoe arch, surmounting and breaking into a circular arch, at Tournai.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 2 "Camorra" to "Cape Colony" by Various