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Glite Dictionary
setoff

setoff

9.0
A step in a wall where the upper part is thinner than the lower part
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛtˌɔf/
  • Specialized
translation icon : saliente
  • We noticed a setoff in the brick wall that marked where it changed from thick to thin.

Examples

  • The building featured a setoff at the second floor, giving it a unique profile.

  • The architect designed a setoff in the wall to create a more interesting visual effect.

  • One of the only possible remedies for the landlord would be to require a substantial security deposit. Under section 506(a), the lessor has the right to secured status for setoffs.

    Academic text (1993)

Synonyms

offset
vssetoff
4 6.0

A part that sticks out from the main surface, like a step in a wall

is specifically about an abrupt internal narrowing in wall thickness
set-back
vssetoff
  • Specialized
8.3

A part of a building where the wall becomes narrower in steps

is a sudden narrowing that marks a change in wall thickness

Surface Forms

setoff singular
setoffs plural

Morphology

setoff = set + off (semi-transparent) = set + off

The components 'set' and 'off' are recognizable, but the specific architectural sense is a specialized technical usage not directly inferable by average learners.

Etymology

Setoff comes from the two words set and off, which together meant 'to put apart' or 'to make stand out'. So a setoff in a wall is literally a part that is 'set off' from the rest — a small step where the wall gets thinner or thicker that marks the change.