lierne

American  

[lee-urn] / liˈɜrn /

noun

Architecture.

1. an ornamental vaulting rib other than one springing from a pier or a ridge rib.

---

lierne British  

/ lɪˈɜːn /

noun

1. architect a short secondary rib that connects the intersections of the primary ribs, esp as used in Gothic vaulting

---

Etymology

Origin of lierne

1835–45; < French: binding timber, equivalent to li ( er ) to bind (< Latin ligāre ) + -erne < ?

Example Sentences

The vault of the chantry is richly groined with lierne work; it is tinted a vivid blue on the back-ground, and the bosses on the groins are gilt.

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Winchester A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See by Sergeant, Philip Walsingham

Vaulting with intermediate ribs, ridge ribs, and late in the style lierne ribs, and bosses.

From Architecture Gothic and Renaissance by Smith, T. Roger (Thomas Roger)

The clerestory follows round from the nave, and overhead is the later lierne vault.

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Norwich A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Episcopal See by Quennell, C. H. B. (Charles Henry Bourne)

The vault above, though not so elaborate as that of Langton's chapel on the right hand, is a fine example of lierne work, and the shafts 89are noticeable for their capitals and bases.

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Winchester A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See by Sergeant, Philip Walsingham

It is a large and lofty apartment, divided into four alleys by two rows of clustered shafts supporting a rich lierne vault with ribs of considerable intricacy.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various