voussoir

American  

[voo-swahr] / vuˈswɑr /

noun

Architecture.

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

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voussoir British  

/ vuːˈswɑː /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of voussoir

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

Explanation

A voussoir is a wedge-shaped stone used in building arches and vaults. If you’re building an arch, or any other curved shape, rectangle bricks just won’t do. You need a voussoir or two! One type of building block is named by the French word voussoir. A voussoir is a stone block that’s wedge shaped, like a piece of pie with a bite taken out. Since it takes more than one to build with, the word is usually plural. Voussoirs are used to make specific buildings — arches and tombs. The rounded form of an arch is tricky to build, and the wedge shape of voussoirs helps them fit together.

Example Sentences

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 "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

"Are you still wondering what the extrados of a voussoir is?"

From The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley by Tracy, Louis

Next morning he was early at his arch, and had soon finished the voussoir which he had been roughing out when this vital interruption occurred.

From Peccavi by Hornung, E. W. (Ernest William)

For hinges, Leibbrand, of Stuttgart, uses sheets of lead about 1 in. thick extending over the middle third of the depth of the voussoir joints, the rest of the joints being left open.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 "Brescia" to "Bulgaria" by Various

Thus it is always: in attempting to dislodge a single voussoir from the arch of truth, the temple itself is shaken, so cunningly are the stones fitted together.

From Architecture and Democracy by Bragdon, Claude Fayette