GLOSSARY.

1227
is of the exact breadth of the boxing, and also flush with it; the next, hidden in the
boxing, is somewhat less in breadth tlian that last mentioned, and the third still less.
Suppose, for instance, a window four feet wide, standing in a two-brick or eigliteen-inch
wall; we may thus find the number of leaves each of the halves must have, as follows
:

To the thickness of the wall add that of the plastering, say 2 inches, and we have 20
inches. Now the sash frame =
6 inches in thickness, being added to the reveal or dis-
tance = 4rj inches of the sash frame from the face of the wall =
lOi inches, which,
subtracted from 20, the thickness of the wall and plaster, leaves
9^
inches. This will
give three leaves, or subdivisions, and as it is usual to make the back
flaps,
or those foldea
within the boxings, less than the front shutter, whose face is visible and flush with and
of the exact breadth of the boxings, the arrangement may be as follows : Front
shutter
OJ
inches, the next 8 inches, and the third
6^
inches
;
in all, 24 inches, the half
of the opening of the window. It will be perceived that no allowance has been made
for the shutters being rebated into each other, as is usually the case
;
and for this half
an inch more must be allowed for the two rebates of the three leaves, and one-eighth
of an inch fur the rebate at the meeting of the two principal divisions in the middle of
the window, making, with the breadth of the three subdivisions, 24
+
|
; the flaps, there-
fore, may be thus disposed
:
Front leaf
9^
inches, second leaf
8^
inches, and the third
leaf
6f
inches ; in all
24|
inches, being fully the width of each principal division. To
find the depth to be given to the boxings, to the thickness of each of the leaves add one-
.sixtesnth of an inch, and if there be a back lining add also the thickness of that. The
. second and third flaps are almost always thinner than the front leaf; thus, say front
leaf
1^
inch, second leaf l^- inch, and third leaf l\ inch
;
to wliich add
~
^o^ the three
leaves, and the amount will stand thus
:

1 5 +
1^+1^ + ^=
"^ft
inches for the depth of
the boxings. If the walls are only a brick and a half thick, or the window very wide,
the architrave is made to project before the face of the plaster, for the purpose of
obtaining width for the boxings, or the plaster is brought out from the internal face of
the wall by means of battening.
Brace. (Fr. Embrasser.) An inclined piece of timber used in trussed partitions and in
framed roofs, in order to form a triangle, by which the assemblage of pieces composing
the framing are stiffened. When a brace is used to support a rafter, it is called a strut.
When braces are used in roofs and in partitions, they should be disposed in pairs, and
introduced in opposite directions. See Angle Beace.
Bracket. (Lat. Brachium.) A supporting piece for a shelf When the shelf is broad
the brackets are small trusses, which consist of a vertical piece, a horizontal piece, and
a strut; but when narrow tlie brackets are generally solid pieces of board, usually
finished with an ogee figure on their outer side.
Beacket for Stair. It is sometimes used under the ends of wooden steps next to the
well-hole, for the sake of ornament only, for it gives only the appearance of a support.
Bbacketing to a Cornice. The wooden ribs nailed to the ceiling, joists, and battening
for supporting the cornices of rooms when too large for security, by the mere dependence
on the adhesive power of plaster to the eriling. It consists of vertical ribs whose rough
outline is that of the cornice, and to which the laths arenailedfor sustaining the plaster
in which the mouldings are run. The bracketing for coves is only an enlargement of
the scale which occurs in ordinary cornices, the operation being that of obtaining a set
of ribs to which the laths may be nailed for the reception of the plastering. The ribs
in question are usually cut out of deals, whose thickness must necessarily vary with the
weight of plaster they have to support.
Brad.
(Etym. uncertain.) A thin nail used in joinery v/ithout the spreading head which
other nails have, the projection of the head being only on one side. Tliere are various
sorts of brads, such as joiners' brads f(jr hard woods ; batten brads, for softer woods
;
and bill, or quarter brad,f, used for a hastily laid floor. When brads are used they are
generally driven below the surface of the wood through the medium of a punch, and the
hole is filled up with putty to prevent an appearance of the nailing.
Branches.
The ribs of a (iothic varlt, rising upwards from the tops of the pillars to the
apex.
They appear to support the ceiling or vault.
Brandering.
Covering the underside of joists with battens about an inch square and
from
twelve to fourteen inches apart, to which to nail laths, in order to secure a better
key for the plastering of the ceiling.
Brandrith. a fence or rail round tlie opening of a well.
Brass. A
metal much used in building. It is an alloy of copper and zinc, whose pro-
portions vary according to the required colour. Four parts of copper and one of zinc
form a good brass. The common process for making it is by heating copper plates in
a
mixture of native oxide of zinc, or calamine and charcoal.
Brass. A
sepulchral metal plate, generally sunk into a grave-stone
; sometimes with a
mere
inscription, but very frequently with effigies, armorial bearings, and other devices
engraved upon it.