Draft

A drawing representing the plans, elevations, and sections of a building, drawn to a scale, thus exhibiting all its parts in the same relative proportion to each other as they are intended to be in the building itself. The term "draught" signifies the same thing.

Dragon - Beam

A piece lying in a horizontal position, and I framed diagonally from each of the angles of a hip-roof to a piece at right angles with it, and which is framed across the corner from one plate to the other. The timber into which the dragon-beam is framed is called the angle-tie.

Drawbore

To confine a tenon to a mortise by means of a pin through the parts, the hole in the tenon being nearer the shoul-der than the holes in the cheeks of the mortise are to the abut-ineut against which the shoulder is to come.

Drift

The horizontal power exerted by an arch when it tends to overset, or spread apart, the pier from which it springs. As a verb, it denotes the act of driving out a pin or wedge by a power exerted against the smaller end.

Druxey

Timber in a state of decay, having white, spongy veins, is said to be drtixey.

Dry-Rot

A disease in timber which destroys the cohesion of its parts, and reduces its substance to a dry powder.

Dwangs {Scotch)

The short pieces of board or joist used in bridging the joists of a floor.

E

Eaves

The edge or lower border of a roof which so projects from the face of a wall as to throw off the water that falls on the roof

Edge

The space between the lines of intersection of two surfaces or sides of a solid; being that part or superfice of a rectangular body which contains the length and thickness; and is either straight or curved, according to the contour of the surfaces or sides. The edge of a tool is the part where the two surfaces meet when ground to an acute angle.

Edifice

A word nearly synonymous with building, structure, or fabric. The term edifice cannot, however, be applied with propriety to ordinary buildings, but rather denotes architectural structures of importance; as large mansion-houses, theatres, churches, &c

Effect

That quality in an architectural composition which is calculated to attract the attention of the beholder, and excite in him the sensation intended by the designer.

Elastic Curve

The curve or figure assumed by an elastic body, as a lath, or thin strip of wood or whalebone, when one end is fixed horizontally in a vertical wall, and the other loaded with a weight, by which the lath is curved or bended.

Elasticity

The inherent property or quality in a body by which it recovers its former figure or state after being relieved from any pressure, tension, or distortion. Elasticity is perfect only where a body recovers its exact original form and shape, and in the time which was required to produce the flexure or bending. The quality of perfect elasticity is rarely, if ever, found. A steel rod is said to be more elastic than one of iron; and a string of India-rubber is more so than one of hemp or cotton. Brittle is the opposite of elastic; and therefore a piece of wood is more elastic than a piece of glass.

Elevation

A drawing or geometrical representation of a side or end of any building. In an elevation, every part of the structure represented is supposed to be directly opposite to, and on a level with, the eye.

Ellipse

A figure produced by a plane passing obliquely through a cylinder; being what is commonly called an oval.

Enter

The act of inserting the end of a tenon into a mortise, previous to its being driven in up to the shoulder.

Extrados

The interior curve, or back, of the stones or voussoirs of an arch.

Eye Of A Dome

The opening at its top inside the curb.

F

Fabric

Any large or important building.

Facade (French)

A term denoting the principal or most important front of a building; as that which faces on a public street, lawn, or garden.

Fathom

A measure of length comprising six feet. It is used chiefly among seamen for measuring ropes and chains, and for sounding the depth of water.

Felling Timber

The act of cutting down trees.

Fill1ng-In Pieces

The short studs which are cut in against the braces of a frame, or the short pieces of rafters cut in against the hips of a roof or groin. The term is synonymous with jack-timber.

Firmer-Chisel

A thick and heavy chisel for framing. (See Chisel.)

Flank

The part of a building that joins the front. The side of a building is called the flank; and a geometrical elevation of the same, a flank elevation.

Flexibility

The quality in a body which admits its bending, or flexure.

Flexure

A winding, or bending. The sag of a stick of timber is called its flexure.

Floor

The lower horizontal surface of a room. Carpenters generally include in the term the timbers and joists on which the floor-boards are laid, as well as the boards themselves. There are as many respective floors to a building as the building is stories in height. The first is usually called the entrance story; and the floor on which the principal drawing-rooms are. the principal story.

Floor-Joists

Those joists in modern carpentry supporting the boards of the floor of which they are a part.