U

Uphers

An old term denoting small poles or sticks of timber partially squared. They were used for scaffolding, common roofs, etc.

V

Valley

The line at the internal meeting of the two inclined sides of a roof. The rafter under the valley is called the valley-rafter.

Yault

An arched roof or ceiling over an apartment.

Vaulted

Arched like a vault or the interior of a dome.

Vertex

The point of termination of any thing, the sides of which are inclined and continued till they meet; as a cone or a common roof.

W

Wall

The sides or ends of any building or apartment.

Wall-Plate

A piece of timber placed horizontally on the top of a wall. The term plate denotes the same thing.

Wedge

One of the five mechanical powers. It has five surfaces; is thick at one end, and slopes to a thin edge at the other.

Well-Hole

The open hole, in a flight of stairs, at the end of the steps.

Wicket

A small door made through a larger door or gate.

Windlass

A machine for raising weights. It consists of a strong cylinder of wood or iron, which moves on an axis, and is turned by a crank, or by means of levers inserted in mortises cut into the outside of the cylinder near the ends. Around the cylinder is wound, by its revolutions, a rope or chain, the other end of which is attached to the weight to be raised. The windlass is used in a horizontal position. The capstan, an instrument of the same nature, is used upright. (See Capstan.)