GLOSSARY.

1361
Thus, it is obvious, that if of the magnitude, -vrcight, and specific gravity of a bodv
any two be given, the third may be found
;
and wo may thus arrive at the magnitude oV
bodies which are too irregular to admit of the common rules of mensuration
; or, by
knowing the specific gravity and magnitude, we may find the weight of bodies which'are
too ponderous to be submitted to the action of the balance or steel yard
; or, lastly, the
magnitude and weight being given, we may ascertain their specific gravities.
SrECus. (Lat.) In ancient architecture, the canal in which the water flowed in aque-
ducts raised above the surface of tlie ground, and constructed of hewn stones or bricks.
It was covered with a vault to preserve the water from the sun, and from being mixed
with rain water. The specus was sometimes covered with flat stones, laid horizontally,
as in the Aqua Martia. part of the Aqua Claudia, and the aqueduct of Segovia. Some-
times the same arcade carried several of these canals one above the other.
Spekoni. See Anterides.
SpHiKRisTERroM. A building for the exercise of the ball; a tennis court. The anciei ts
generally placed sphasristeria among the apartments of their baths and gymnasia.
They were also placed in large villas, as in those of Pliny the younger.
Sphere. (Gr. ^(paipu.) A solid, whose surfiice is at every point equally distant from a
certain point within the solid, which point is called the centre
of
the sphvre. Every
sphere is equal to two-thirds of its circumscribing cylinder, that is, it is equal to a
cylinder whose ends are circles, equal to a great circle of the sphere, and whose height
is equal to the diameter of the same.
Si'MBiiicAT. Bracketing. That so formed that the surface of the plastering which it is
to receive forms a spherical surface.
Spheroid. See Conoid.
Spheroidal Bracketinq. That formed to receive the plastering of a spheroid.
Spina. See Circus.
Spiral. A curve which makes one or more revolutions round a fixed point, and does not
return to itself. See Volute.
Spire. (Gr. STraipa, a twisting.) In ancient architecture, the base of a column, and some-
times the astragal or torus. The termination of the tower of a church, generally dimi-
nishing, and either pyramidally or conically. See Steeple.
A spire which is octagonal, the sides facing the cardinal points being continued to
the eaves which project over the lower work, and the diagonal faces being intercepted
at the bottom by semipyramidal projections whose edges are carried from the angles
of t^.e towur upwards, terminating in points on the corresponding oblique faces of the
spire, is called a broach (Fr. Broche, a spit).
The following table gives the heights of many of the chief Towers and Spires, but it
is liable to correction, for it is very difficult to obtain accurate dimensions of any .struc-
ture or parts of one.
"
feet.
-
'274
-
L'.52
-
217
-
2(58
-
202
-
229
-
22/,
-
22i
-
215
Splay. A slanting or bevelling in the sides of an opening to a wall for a window or door,
so that the outsiile profile of the window is hirger than that of the inside
;
it is done for
the purpose of facilitating the admission of light. It is a term applied to whatever
has one side making an oblique angle with the other :
thus, the heading joists of a
boarded floor are frequently splayed in their thickness. The word fluiug is sometimes
applied to an aperture, in the same sense as splayid.
Spring Bevel of a Eail. The angle made by the top of the plank, with a vertical piano
touching the ends of the rail piece, which terminates the concave side.
Springed or Spijung. In boarding a roof, the setting the boards together with bevel
joints, for the purpose of keeping out the rain. See Boardi.no for Slating.
Spuinge:i.
The impost or place where the vertical support to an arch terminates, and the
curve of the arch begins ; tlie term is sometimes used for the rib of a groined roof.
Springing
Course. The horizontal course of stones, from which an arch springs or rises
;
or that row of stones upon which the first arch stones are laid.
Spodds and Rings. A method adopted in Ireland of securing the posts of a door, in a
basement
story, Ijy '""'^ ^^ '^<^" ^"*''' ^'I'ich the post is placed, with a projection or
spud for insertion" into a corresponding bole in the sill or step.
4 S
feet.
Strasburg
468 Grantham
Sdisbury
- 400 or 404 Lichfiebl
-
St. Paul's, London 3 13, 365, 3o6 or 404 Wakefield
Milan
- 400 Boston -
Amiens
422 Lincoln -
Coventry
320 Canterbury
Norwich
-
309 or 313 Gloucester
Louth
- 294 Westminster -
Chichester was - - - - 271 Ely and Durham