voussoir
- noun
- /vuˈsɔɪr/
- Specialized
:
dovela
- Each voussoir fits perfectly into place, creating a strong and elegant archway.
Examples
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The keystones, voussoirs, and brick detailing here are just first-rate.
Blog text (17) -
All the arch stones, or "voussoirs" are equally important.
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Much later, the flying buttresses were brought down to the thickness of voussoir with a capping stone above it (see Amiens, Le Mans, and Beauvais).
Blog text (8) -
In the first figured archivolt, which contains a number of intriguing depictions of peasant occupations, about half of the twenty-six voussoirs possess modern heads, arms, legs, or other features.
Academic text (2005) -
The architect carefully selected each voussoir to ensure the stability of the arch.
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During the restoration, the old voussoirs were replaced with new ones to preserve the structure.
How Wedge-Shaped
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word voussoir comes from French and refers to a 'wedge' stone used to build an arch. Think of an arch as a circle of orange slices: each 'wedge' presses against the next to hold the shape, so a voussoir is the wedge-shaped block that keeps the arch standing.