Glossary

AFM Air Force Manual
anchor irons of special form used to connect timbers or masonry
anchor bolts bolts which fasten columns, girders, or other members to concrete or masonry
apron a plain or molded finish piece below the stool of a window; covers the rough edges of
plaster
attn attention
backing the bevel on the top edge of a hip rafter that allows the roofing board to fit the top of the
rafter without leaving a triangular space between it and the lower side of the roof covering
balloon frame the lightest and most economical form of construction. The studding and corner
posts are set up in continuous lengths from the first-floor line or sill to the roof plate.
baluster a small pillar or column used to support a rail
balustrade a series of balusters connected by a rail; generally used for porches, balconies, and
such
band a low, flat molding
base the bottom of a column; the finish of a room at the junction of the walls and floor
base molding the molding on the top of a baseboard
batten (cleat) a narrow strip of board fastening several pieces together
batten door a door made of sheathing and reinforced with strips of board nailed crosswise
batter board a temporary framework for locating the corners when laying a foundation
batter pile a pile driven at an angle to brace a structure against lateral thrust
bd ft board feet
beam an inclusive term for joists, girders, rafters, and purlins
bedding a filling of mortar, putty, or other substance in order to secure a firm bearing
bed molding a molding used to cover the joint between the plancier and frieze (horizontal
decorative band around the wall of a room); also used as a base molding on heavy work and
sometimes as a member of a cornice
belt course a horizontal board across or around a building; usually made of a flat member and a
molding
bent a single, vertical framework consisting of horizontal and vertical members supporting the
deck of a bridge or pier
bevel board (pitch board) a board used to lay out bevels in framing a roof or stairway
bird's mouth a cutout near the bottom of a rafter; fits over the rafter plate
blind-nailing driving nails so that the holes are concealed
board lumber less than 2 inches thick
board foot the equivalent of a board 1 foot square and 1 inch thick
boarding in the process of nailing boards on the outside studding of a house
bollard a steel or cast-iron post to which large ships are tied
BOM bill of materials
braces pieces fitted and firmly fastened to two others at any angle; used to strengthen the angle
thus treated
bracket a projecting support for shelves or other structures
break joints to arrange joints so that they do not come directly under or over the joints of
adjoining pieces, such as in shingling and siding
bridging pieces fitted in pairs from the bottom of one floor joist to the top of adjacent joints and
crossed to distribute the floor load; it can also be pieces of width equal to the joists and fitted
neatly between them
building paper cheap, thick paper used to insulate a building before the siding or roofing is put
on; sometimes placed between double floors
built-up member a single structural component made from several pieces fastened together
built-up timber a timber made of several pieces fastened together, forming one piece of larger
dimension
butt joint a joint made by fastening two end pieces together without overlapping
camber the angle cut in a piece of wood (such as a joist) to match an adjacent member (such as a
rafter)
carriages the supports, or the steps and risers, of a flight of stairs
casement a window in which the sash opens on hinges
casing the trimming around a door or window opening, outside or inside; the finished lumber
around a post or beam
CB circuit breaker
ceiling narrow, matched boards; sheathing of the surfaces that enclose the upper side of a room
center-hung sash a sash hung on its centers so that it swings on a horizontal axis
chamfer a beveled surface cut on the corner of a piece of wood
checks splits or cracks in a board, ordinarily caused by seasoning
chock heavy timber fitted between fender piles along the wheel guard of a pier or wharf
chord the principal member of a truss on either the top or bottom
clamp a mechanical device used to hold two or more pieces together
clapboards a special form of outside covering of a house; a type of siding
cleats metal arms extending horizontally from a relatively low base, used for securing small
ships, tugs, and work boats
cm centimeter(s)
collar tie usually a 1 x 4 or a 1 x 6 fastened in a horizontal position to secure the upper ends of
rafters together; placed on every other rafter system
column a square, rectangular, or cylindrical support for roofs, ceilings, and so forth
combination frame a combination of the principal features of the full and balloon frames
common rafter a rafter which runs square with the plate and extends to the ridge
cone concrete
concrete an artificial building material made by mixing cement and sand with gravel, broken
stone, or other aggregate, plus sufficient water to cause the cement to set and bind the entire
mass
conductors pipes for conducting water from a roof to the ground or to a receptacle or drain;
downspout
const construction
cornice the molded project that finishes the top of the wall of a building
counterflashings strips of metal used to prevent water from entering the top edge of the vertical
side of a roof flashing; allows expansion and contraction without danger of breaking the
flashing
cripple rafter rafters that cut between valley and hip rafters
cross brace bracing with two intersecting diagonals; also refers to the top surface of a piece of
wood that has been cut at an angle to match an adjacent member
d penny
DA Department of the Army
dado a rectangular, square-based groove cut across the full width of a board and commonly used
to form joints; a rectangular groove cut. Dados are used in sliding doors and window frames.
dado joint a joint formed by two intersecting boards, meeting at right angles, and with the end of
one notched into the other for half the second board's thickness
deadening construction intended to prevent the passage of sound
dead load a permanent load on a building or other structure, which includes the weight of its
structural members and the fixed loads they carry
decking the heavy plank floor of a pier or bridge
df double flow
dn down
diam diameter
diagonal inclined member of a truss or bracing system used for stiffening and for wind-bracing
double-hung window a window with an upper and a lower sash, each with sash cords and
weights
dovetail joint a joint made by cutting pins the shape of dovetails, which fit between dovetails
onto another piece
drawboard joint a mortise-and-tenon joint with holes bored so that when a pin is driven
through, the joint becomes tighter
drip the projection of a window sill or water table to allow the water to drain clear of the side of
the house below it
ea each
elev elevation
end-lap joint a joint formed at the corner where two boards lap. Each board is cut away to half
its thickness and they are halved to a distance equal to their width so that they are flush when
fitted together
F Fahrenheit
fascia a flat member of a cornice or other finish; generally, the board of the cornice to which the
gutter is fastened
fender pile the outside row of piles that protects a pier or wharf from damage by ships
fishplates metal plates, fastened to each side of a butt splice for support
fished joint an end butt splice strengthened by pieces nailed on the sides
filler a piece used to fill the space between two surfaces
fin finished
flashing the material used and the process of making watertight the roof intersections and other
exposed places on the outside of the house
flr floor
flue the opening in a chimney through which smoke passes
flush even, adjacent structural surfaces, or those in the same plane
flush joint a mortar joint formed by cutting extra mortar away from the wall
FM field manual
footing an enlargement at the lower end of a wall, pier, or column that distributes the load
footing form a wooden or steel structure placed around the footing to hold the concrete to the
desired shape and size
foundation that part of a building or wall that supports the superstructure
frame the timber skeleton of a building and the surrounding or enclosing woodwork of windows,
doors, and so forth
frame box a window frame with boxes to contain the sash weights
framing the rough timber structure of a building, including interior and exterior walls, floor,
ceiling, and roof
ft foot, feet
furring narrow strips of board nailed upon the walls and ceiling to form a straight surface upon
which to lay the laths or other finish
gable the vertical, triangular end of a building from the eaves to the apex of the roof
gal gallon
gauge a tool used by carpenters to strike a line parallel to the edge of a board
gambrel a symmetrical roof with two different pitches or slopes on each side
girder a timber used to support wall beams or joists
girt (ribboned) the horizontal member of the walls of a full or combination frame house that
supports the floor joists or is flush with the top of the joists
GL ground level
glued joint a joint held together with glue
grade the horizontal ground level of a building or structure
groove a long, hollow channel cut by a tool into which a piece fits or in which it works. Two
special types of grooves are the dado and the housing.
ground a strip of wood assisting the plasterer in making a straight wall; also, a place to which
the finish of the room may be nailed
ha hectare
half-lap joint two pieces joined by cutting away half the thickness of each so that they fit flush
into each other
halved joint a joint made by cutting half the wood away from each piece to bring the side flush
hanger a vertical-tension member supporting a load
header a short joist into which the common joists are framed around or over an opening
head jamb (yoke) the top horizontal member of a door or window frame
headroom the clear space between floor and ceiling, as in a stairway
heel of a rafter the end or foot that rests on the wall plate
hip rafter rafters extending from the outside angle of the plates toward the apex of the roof
hip roof a roof that slopes up toward the center from all sides, necessitating a hip rafter at each
corner
housed joint a joint in which one piece is grooved to receive the other
housing a groove cut at any angle with the grain and part way across the piece; housings are
used for framing stair risers and treads in stringers
hypotenuse the length of a rafter
in inch(es)
jack rafter a short rafter framing between the wall plates; a hip rafter
jamb the side piece or post of an opening; sometimes applied to the door frame
joists timbers supporting the floorboards
kerf the cut made by a saw
km kilometer(s)
knee brace a corner brace, fastened at an angle from the wall stud to the rafter, stiffening a
wood or steel frame to prevent angular movement
kraftpaper strong, brown paper used for a variety of building needs
lap joint a joint of two pieces lapping over each other
laths narrow strips which support plastering
lattice crossed wood, iron plate, or bars
lb pound(s)
ledgers the support for the second-floor joists of a balloon-frame house or for similar uses;
ribband
level a term describing the position of a line or plane when parallel to the surface of still water; a
tool used for testing horizontal and vertical surfaces and for determining differences of
elevation
lgth length
lin ft linear feet
lintel (cap) a horizontal structural member spanning an opening and supporting a wall load
lip molding a molding with a lip which overlaps the piece against which the backing of the
molding rests
live load the weight a building must bear due to the combination of furniture, other movable
objects, and the people who occupy the building
lookout the end of a rafter, or the construction that extends beyond the sides of a house to
support the eaves; also the projecting timbers at the gables, supporting the verge boards
louver a type of window (usually in peaks of gables and the tops of towers) provided with
horizontal slats, which exclude rain and snow and allow ventilation
lumber sawed parts of a log such as boards, planks, scantling, and timber
m meter(s)
matching (tongue-and-groove) the method used in cutting the edges of a board to make a
tongue on one edge and a groove on the other
max maximum
meeting rail or check rail the bottom rail of the upper sash of a double-hung window
member a single piece complete in itself, within a structure
mi mile(s)
min minimum
miter the joint formed by two abutting pieces meeting at an angle
mm millimeter(s)
mortise the hold, generally rectangular, for a tenon or any such hole cut into or through a piece
by a chisel
mortised joint a joint made by cutting a hole or mortise in one piece—and a tenon, or piece to fit
the hole, upon the other
mullion the construction between the openings of a window frame to accommodate two or more
windows
muntin the vertical member between two pieces of the same panel work; the vertical sash bars
separating the different panels of glass
N North
NCOIC noncommissioned officer in charge
newel the principal post at the foot of a staircase; also the central support of a winding flight of
stairs
nmi nautical miles
no. number
nosing the part of a stair tread that projects over the riser or any similar projection; a term
applied to the rounded edge of a board
O.C. on center
p pile
pad eyes metal rings vertically mounted on a plate; used for tying small vessels
parting bead the strip or bead that separates the upper and lower sashes of a window (also
called a parting strip)
partition a permanent interior wall that divides a building into rooms
partition, nonbearing a dividing wall that separates areas of a structure but does not provide
support for the room, overhead partitions, or floor joists
pc pieces
picture molding a molding shaped to form a support for picture hooks, often placed on the wall
at some distance from the ceiling to form the lower edge of the frieze
pier timber, concrete, or masonry supports for girders, posts, or arches; intermediate supports for
adjacent ends of two bridge spans; or a structure extending outward from the shore into the
water, used as a dock for ships
piers masonry supports set independent of the main foundation
pilaster a portion of a square column, usually set within or against a wall
piles long posts driven into swampy soil or wherever it is difficult to secure a firm foundation
upon which to lay the footing course of masonry or other timbers
piling large timbers or poles driven into the ground or the bed of a stream to make a firm
foundation
pitch inclination or slope, as for roofs or stairs; the rise divided by the span
pitch board a board sawed to the exact shape formed by the stair tread, riser, and slope of the
stairs and used to lay out the carriage and stringers
plan a horizontal, geometrical drawing of a building showing the walls, doors, windows, stairs,
chimneys, columns, and other structural components
plank a wide piece of sawed timber, usually 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches thick and 6 inches or more wide
plaster a mixture of lime, hair, and sand (or of lime, cement, and sand) used to cover outside and
inside wall surfaces
plate the top, horizontal piece of the walls of a frame building upon which the roof rests
plate (or seat) cut the cut at the bottom end of a rafter that rests upon the top of the plate
plot plan (site plan) a drawing showing all necessary property lines, contours, building lines,
building locations, existing or new buildings, and utility easements
plow to cut a groove running in the same direction as the grain of the wood
plumb cut any cut made in a vertical plane; the vertical cut at the top end of a rafter
ply a term used to denote a layer or thickness of building or roofing paper (such as two-ply or
three-ply)
porch an exterior, ornamental entranceway
post a timber set on end to support a wall, girder, or other members of the structure pr pair
prefab prefabricated
pulley stile the member of a window frame that contains the pulleys and between which the
edges of the sash slide
purlin a timber supporting several rafters at one or more points, or the roof sheeting directly
PX post exchange
qty quantity
R riser
rabbet a corner cut out of an edge of a piece of wood
rabbet joint two pieces of timber, rabbeted and fit together
rafters beams that slope from the ridge of a roof to the eaves making the main body of the roof's
framework
rail the horizontal members of a balustrade or panel work
rake the trim of a building extending in an oblique line, as rake, dado, or molding
rake molding the cornice on the gable edge of a pitched roof, the members of which are made to
fit those of the molding of the horizontal eaves
return the continuation of a molding or finish of any kind in a different direction
ridge the top edge or corner formed by two intersecting roof surfaces
rise the vertical distance through which anything rises, as the rise of a roof or stair
riser the vertical board between two treads of a flight of stairs
RL random length
rm room
roof decking the layer of wood or plywood applied directly to the rafters, under the shingles
roofing the material put on a roof to make it weatherproof
rub joint a glued joint made by carefully fitting the edges together, spreading glue between
them, and rubbing the pieces back and forth until they adhere
rubble roughly broken quarry stone
rubble masonry uncut stone, used for such things as rough work, foundations, and backing run
the horizontal length of a piece, such as a rafter, when it is in position
S switch
saddle board the finish of the ridge of a pitched roof house; sometimes called comb board
sash the framework that holds the glass in a window
sash lift a metal hook, bar, or plate attached to a sash to enable lifting and lowering of the
window
sawing, plain lumber sawed regardless of the grain, the log simply squared and sawed to the
desired thickness
scab a short piece of lumber used to splice or prevent movement of two other pieces
scaffolding or staging a temporary structure or platform enabling workmen to reach high
places
scale a short measurement used as a proportionate part of a larger dimension; the scale of a
drawing is frequently expressed as 1/4 inch = 1 foot
scantling lumber with a cross section ranging from 2 by 4 inches to 4 by 4 inches.
scarfed joint a timber spliced by cutting various shapes of shoulders or jogs which fit each other
scarfing a joint between two pieces of wood allowing them to be spliced lengthwise
scotia a hollow molding used as part of a cornice and often under the nosing of a stair tread
scribing marking a piece of wood to provide for fitting one of its surfaces to the irregular surface
of another
section a drawing showing the type, arrangement, and proportions of the various parts of a
structure. It is assumed that the structure is cut by a plane, and the section is the view gained
by looking in one direction.
shakes imperfections in timber caused by high winds or imperfect growth conditions
sheathing wallboards or roofing boards; generally applied to narrow boards laid with a space
between them, according to the length of a shingle exposed to the weather
sheathing paper (building paper) the paper used under siding or shingles to insulate the
house
shingles thin, oblong pieces of wood or other material, thinner at one end, used for covering roofs
or walls
siding the outside finish between the casings
sills the horizontal timbers of a house which either rest upon the masonry foundation or, in the
absence of such, form the foundation
sizing working material to the desired size; a coating of glue, shellac, or other substance applied
to a surface to prepare it for painting or other finishing
sleeper a timber laid on the ground to support a floor joist
sole the horizontal member on which the studs bear
spac spacing
span the distance between the bearings of a timber or arch
specifications written or printed directions regarding the details of a building or other
construction
spirit level an instrument for measuring the exactness of the horizontal or vertical position of a
building or structure member
splice joining of two similar members in a straight line
sq cm square centimeter(s)
sq ft square foot, feet
sq in square inch(es)
sq km square kilometer(s)
sq m square meter(s)
sq mi square mile(s)
sq yd square yard(s)
square a tool used by carpenters to obtain accuracy; a term applied to a surface area of 100
square feet
stairs, box those built between walls, usually having no support except the walls
standing finish term applied to the finish of the openings and the base and all other interior
finish work
stringer a long, horizontal timber in a structure supporting a floor
stucco a fine plaster used for interior decoration and fine work; also used for rough outside wall
coverings
stud an upright beam in a building framework
studding the framework of a partition or the wall of a house; usually referred to as 2 x 4s
subfloor a wood floor laid over the floor joists on which the finished floor is laid
threshold the beveled piece over which the door swings; sometimes called a carpet strip
tie beam (collar beam) a beam so situated that it ties the principal rafters of a roof together and
prevents them from thrusting the plate out of line
timber lumber with a cross section more than 4 by 6 inches, such as posts, sills, and girders
tin shingle a small piece of tin used for flashing and repairing a shingle roof
TM technical manual
TO theater of operations
toenailing driving a nail, spike, or brad at an angle into the end of one piece of wood to fasten it
to a second piece; avoids having the nails show above the surface
top plate a piece of lumber supporting the ends of rafters
to the weather a term applied to the projection of shingles or siding beyond the course above
TRADOC United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
tread the horizontal part of a step
trim a term sometimes applied to exterior or interior finished woodwork and the finish around
openings
trimmer the beam or floor joist to which a header is framed
trimming putting the inside and outside finish hardware on a building
truss structural framework of triangular units, used in place of rafters, for supporting loads over
long spans
US United States
USAES United States Army Engineer School
valley rafter rafters extending from an inside angle of the plates toward the ridge or centerline
of the house
valleys the internal angle formed by the two slopes of a roof
verge boards the boards that serve as the eaves' finish on the gable end of a building
vestibule an entrance to a house; usually enclosed
W watts
WH wall hung
wainscoting matched boarding or panel work covering the lower portion of a wall
wale a horizontal beam
wash the slant on a sill, capping, and so forth, to allow water to run off easily
water table the finish at the bottom of a house that carries water away from the foundation
wharf a structure that provides berthing space for vessels, to facilitate loading and discharge of
cargo
wind a term used to describe the surface of a board when twisted (winding) or when resting upon
two diagonally opposite corners, if laid upon a perfectly flat surface
wooden brick a piece of seasoned wood, made the size of a brick, and laid where necessary to
provide a nailing hold in masonry walls