GLOSSARY.

1267
DiDORON.
(Gr.) See Brtck.
Die of a Pedbstal. That part included between the base and the cornice. See Dai>o.
Digging.
In soft ground, one man with a spade will throw up, per hour, a cubic yard of
twenty-seven feet. If a mattock must be used, the same quantity will require two men,
and in a strong gravel, three. It will require three men to wheel thirty cubic yards of
gravel in a day to the distance of twenty yards.
DiGLYPii, (Gr. Aiy, twice, and r\v<pw, 1 carve.) A projecting face ov femur, with two
panels or channels called glyphs, sunk thf reon. See Teiglyph.
Dilapidation.
The state of neglect into which a building has been permitted to ftill.
Dimension.
(Lat. Dimetior.) In geometry is either length, breadth, or thickness. Thus
a line has one dimension, as of length
;
a superficies has two, length and breadth ; a
solid has three dimensions, length, breadth, and thickness.
Diminished Arch. One lower or less than a semicircle, called by the French vottte
surbaissee. See Surbased Arch.
Diminished Bar of a Sash. One thinner on the edge towards the room than on that
towards the glass of the window.
Diminished Column. A column whereof the upper diameter is less than the lower.
Diminishing Eule. A board cut with a concave edge, so as to ascertain the swell of a
Column, and to try its curvature.
Diminishing Scale. A scale of gradation used in finding the different points for drawing
. the spiral curve of the Ionic volute, by describing the arc of a circlelhrough every three
]ireceding points, the extreme point of the last arc being one of the next three. Each
point through which the curve passes is regulated so as to be in a line drawn to the
centre of the volute and the lines at equal angles with each other.
Diminution of a Column. The continued contraction of the diameter of the column as
it rises. Most of the modern authors make the diminution to commence from one-third
the height of the column; but in all the ancient examples the diminution commences
from the bottom of the shaft. See EyxAsis. In Gothic architecture neither swell nor
diminution is used, all the horizontal sections being similar and equal.
Dining or Dinner Eoom. Generally one of the largest rooms in a dwelling-house. In
large buildings it extends to forty or fifty feet in length, and the breadth is from half
to three-fourths the length. In middle-sized houses, dining-rooms run from twenty-four
down to eighteen feet in length by eighteen to sixteen feet in width, and thirteen or
fourteen feet in height.
Diocletian Window. Usually called a Venetian Window.
Dipteral. (Gr. Aiirrepoy, double-winged.) la ancient architecture, a temple having a
double range of columns on each of its flanks. See Temple.
Direct Radial. In perspective, a right line from the eye perpendicular to tlie picture.
Directing Line. In perspective, the line in which an original plane would cut tho
directing plane.
Directing Plane. In perspective, a plane passing through the point of sight, or the eye,
parallel to the picture.
Directing Point. In perspect've, that in which any original line produced cuts the
directing plane.
Director of an Orioinal Line. In perspective, the straight line passing through the
directing point and the eye of a spectator.
Director of the Eve. In perspective, the intersection of the plane with tho directing
plane perpendicular to the original plane and that of the picture, and hence also per-
pendicular to tho directing and vanishing planes, since each of the two latter is parallel
to each of tlie two former.
Directrix. In geometry, the name given to a certain straight line perpendicular to tlie
axis of a conic section. One of the properties of these curves is that the distance of any
point of the curve tVom the directrix is to the distance of the same point from the focus
in a constant ratio. The name is sometimes applied generally to any straight or curved
line required for the description of any curve.
Discharge.
(Fr. Decharger.) The relief given to a beam, or any other piece of timber,
too
much loaded by an incumbent weight of building. When the rolief is given, the
weight is said to be
discharged.
Discharging
Arch. An arch built over a wood lintel, whereby tho bearing upon it
is taken off.
The chords of discharging arches are not much longer than the lintel,
being the
segments of very large circles. A temporary arch is frequently intr.-duced,
and removed
on completing tiie building. Sometimes the arches are built without any
lintel
under them.
Dishing
Out.
The same as Cradling.
Displuviatum.
(Lat.) In ancient architecture, a place from which tho rain is conveyed
away in two
channels. According to Vitruvius, a euva-ditim
dt.iji/uviaiiim was an open
court
exposed to the rain.
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