triglyph

[ trahy-glif ]

noun

, Architecture.

1. a structural member of a Doric frieze, separating two consecutive metopes, and consisting typically of a rectangular block with two vertical grooves or glyphs, and two chamfers or half grooves at the sides, together counting as a third glyph, and leaving three flat vertical bands on the face of the block.

triglyph

/ ˈtraɪˌɡlɪf /

noun

1. architect a stone block in a Doric frieze, having three vertical channels

Derived Forms

• triˈglyphic, adjective

Other Words From

• triglyphed adjective
• tri·glyphic tri·glyphi·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of triglyph¹

1555–65; < Latin triglyphus < Greek tríglyphos thrice-grooved, equivalent to tri- tri- + glyph ( ḗ ) glyph + -os adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of triglyph¹

C16: via Latin from Greek trigluphos three-grooved, from tri- tri- + gluphē carving. See glyph

Example Sentences

The capitals of each triglyph are to measure one sixth of a module.

From Project Gutenberg

The short band, corresponding to the triglyph, beneath the tnia moulding which crowns the epistyle; the listel.

From Project Gutenberg

Triglyph, trī′glif, n. a three-grooved tablet at equal distances along the frieze in Doric architecture.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus, in the Doric temple, the triglyph and cornice are unimitative; or imitative only of artificial cuttings of wood.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence the metopes next to the corner columns do not come out perfectly square, but are too broad by half the width of a triglyph.

From Project Gutenberg