voussoir

[voo-swahr]

noun

Architecture.

1. any of the pieces, in the shape of a truncated wedge, that form an arch or vault.

voussoir

/ vuːˈswɑː /

noun

1. a wedge-shaped stone or brick that is used with others to construct an arch or vault

Word History and Origins

Origin of voussoir¹

1325–75; < French; replacing Middle English vousor ( i ) e < Anglo-French; Old French volsoir < Vulgar Latin *volsōrium, equivalent to *volt ( us ) (for Latin volūtus ), past participle of volvere to turn + -tōrium -tory ² with tt > s

Word History and Origins

Origin of voussoir¹

C18: from French, from Vulgar Latin volsōrium (unattested), ultimately from Latin volvere to turn, roll

Example Sentences

For example, archaeologist Cédric Moulis of the University of Lorraine painstakingly reassembled dozens of wedge-shaped stones called voussoirs recovered from the collapsed vaulted ceiling over the nave to glean insights into their mechanical properties.

From Science Magazine

The masons put together the pieces of the rose window and installed the tympanums and voussoirs over the doors.

From Literature

The Damascus room has painted and carved wood walls, a stone wall fountain and an arch of colorful plaster voussoirs.

From Los Angeles Times

He learns the endless terms, the vocabulary that classifies the details of ancient buildings, writing them on separate index cards and making illustrations on the back: architrave, entablature, tympanum, voussoir.

From Literature

On either side of this are two columns of red Vermont marble with white marble capitals and bases, on which rests a broad archivolt enriched with sculpture and varied by voussoirs, alternately white and gray.

From Project Gutenberg