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GLOSSARY.
Beak-head. An ornament often used in Norman mouldings, resembling the beak of a bird.
Beak Moulding. See
Bikd's-beak
Motu.uiNG.
Beam. (Sax. Beam, a tie.)
Apieeeof timber, or sometimes of metal, for supporting a weight,
or counteracting two opposite and equal forces, either drawing it or compressing it in
the direction of its length. A beam
employed as a lintel supports a weijiht
; if em-
ployed as a tie beam, it is drawn or extended
;
if as a collar beam, it is compressed. The
word is usually employed with some other word used adjectively or in opposition, which
word implies the use, situation, or form of the beam ; as tie beam, hamuer beam, dragon
beam, straining beam, camber beam, binding biam, girding beam, truss beam, summer beam,
&c. Some of these are, however, used simply, as collar for collar beam, lintel for lintel
beam, &c. That which is now called the collar beam was by old writers called wi/id
beam, and strut or sirutU7ig beam. A beam is lengthened either by building it in
thicknesses, or by lapping or splicing the ends upon each other and bolting them through,
which is called scarfing.
See Collar Beam.
Beam Compasses. An instrument for describing large circles, and made eitlier of wood
or metal with sliding sockets, carrying steel or pencil points. It is used only when the
circle to be described is beyond the reMch of common conipass^es.
BiiiM Filling. The brickwork or masonry brought up from the level of the under to the up-
per sides of the beams. It is also used to denote the filling up of the space from the top of
the wall plate between the rafters to the under side of the slating, board, or other covering.
Bearer. That which supports any body in its place, as a wall, a post, a strut, &c. In
gutters they are the short pieces of timber which support the boarding.
Bearing. The distance or length which the ends of a piece of timber lie upon or are
inserted into the walls or piers
;
thus joints are usually carried into the walls at least
nine inches, or are said to have a nine-inch bearing. Lintels of an aperture should in
like manner have a similar bearing, the object being to prevent any sagging of the piece
acting on the inner horizontal quoins of the wall.
Bearing of a Timber. The unsupported distance between its points of support without
any intervening assistance. A piece of timber having any number of supports, one
being placed at each extremity, will have as many bearings, wanting one, as there are
supports. Thus a piece of timber extended lengthwise, as a joist over two rooms, wiU
have three supports and two bearings, the bearers being the two outside walls and the
partition in the midst between them.
Bearing Wall or Partition. A wall or partition built from the solid for the purpose
of supporting another wall or partition, either in the same or in a transverse direction.
When the latter is built in the same direction as the supporting wall, it is said to have
a solid bearing
;
but when built in a transverse direction, or unsupported throughout,
its whole length is said to have a false
bearing, or as many false bearings are there are
intervals below the wall or partition.
Beater. Ani mplement used by plasterers and bricklayers for beating, and thereby temper-
ing or incorporating together the lime, sand, and other ingredients of a cement or plaster.
Beaufet. See Buffet.
Bed. (Sax. Beb.) The horizontal surface on which the stones, bricks, or other matters
in building lie. The under surface of a stone or brick is called its under bid, and the
upper surface its upper bed. In general language the beds of a stone are the surfaces
where the stones or bricks meet. It is almost needless to inculcate the necessity of
every stone being worked quite straight, and not dished or hollowed out, which masons
are very apt to do for the purpose of making a fine joint. Stones thus worked are very
liable to flush and break otf at the angles.
Bed Chamber. The apartment destined to the reception of a bed. Its finishings of
course depend on the rank of the party who is to occupy it.
Bed-mouldings. The mouldings under a projection, as the corona of a cornice.
Bed of a Slate. The under side of a slate, or that part in contiguity with the boarding or
rafters.
Beds of a Stone, in cylindrical vaulting, are the two surfaces intersecting the intrados
of the vault in lines parallel to the axis of the cylinder. In conic vaulting, where the
axis is horizontal, they are those two surfaces which, if produced, would intersect the
axis of the cone. In arching the beds are called summerings by the workmen.
Bedding of Timbers. The placing them properly in mortar on the walls.
Beech. One of the forest trees, but not often used in building.
Beetle. (Sax. Bytel.) A large wooden hammer or mallet with one, two, or three
handles for as many persons. With it piles, stakes, wedges, &c., are driven.
Bia.ECTioN Moulding. See Balection Moulding.
Belfry. The upper part of the steeple of a churcli for the reception of the bells. It is
the campanile of the Italians, though amongst them a building often altogether
, unconnected with the body of the church. It is sometimes used more especially in
respect of the timber framing by which the bells are supported.