Grotesque. (Fr.

) A term applied to capricious ornaments which, as a whole, have no

type in nature, consisiing of figures, animals, leaves, flowers, fruits, and the like, all
connected together.
Ground Floor. The floor of a building level, or nearly .o, with the surface of the chief
thoroUQ:hfare or the land around it. It is not always the lowest floor, the basement
being frequently beneath it. A floor, -if on such a level, as in some country mansions,
becomes a ground floor, though generally called a basement.
Ground Glass. The white effect given to glass by grinding it with emery powder, and
thus obscuring it, so that it cannot be seen through.
Ground Joists. Those which rest upon sleepers laid upon the ground, or on bricks, prop
stones, or dwarf walls ; they are only used in basement and ground floors.
Ground Line. In perspective, the intersection of the picture with the ground plane. See
Ground Plane.
Ground Niche. One whose base or seat is on a level with the ground floor.
Ground Plan. The plan of the story of a house level with the surface of the ground, or
near to it.
Ground Plane. In perspective, the situation of the original plane in the supposed level
of our horizon. It differs from the horizontal plane, which is said of any plane parallel
to the horizon
;
whereas the ground plane is a tangent plane to the surface of the earth,
and is supposed to contain the objects to be represented. The term groimd plane is used
in a more confined sense than that of original plane, which may be any plane, whether
horizontal or inclined.
Ground Plate or Ground Sill. The lowest liorizontHl timber on which the exterior
walls of a building are erected. It chiefly occurs in timber buildings, or in buildings
whose outside walls iire formed of brick panels with timber framings.
Ground Plot. The plan of the walls of a building where they first commence above the
foundation, tliough more properly it is the piece of ground selected to receive the
building. Por dwellings, its chief requisites are a healthy situation, a convenient supply
of water, good drainage, a pleasant aspect, &c. If for trade or manufacture, it should
be conveniently placed for receiving the raw material, and for exporting the articles
manufactured.
Grounds. In joinery, certain pieces of wood attached to a wall, to which the finishings are
fastened. Their surface is flush with the plastering. Narrow grounds are those whereto
the bases and surbases of rooms are fastened. Grounds are used over apertures, as well
for securing the architraves ns for strengthening the plaster. That the plaster may be
kept firm, should the wood shrink, a groove is sometimes run on the edge of the ground
next to the plaster, or the edge of the ground is rebated on the side next to the wall, bo
that in the act of plastering the stuff is received into the groove or rebate, which pre-
vents it from shitting when it becomes dry. Wide grounds are framed.
Grouped Columns or Pilasters. A term used to denote three or more columns placed
upon the same pedestal. When two only are placed together they are said to be coupled.
Grout, (Sax. DpuT.) A semi-liquid mortar, composed of quicklime and fine sand,
poured into the joints of masonry, and those of large masses of brickwork at every
four courses or so, in order to fill up the joints well, which process is CixWedi grouting.
It is not required when tlie joints are properly flushed up.
Growing Shore. See Dead Shore.
Gudgeon. The axle of a wheel, on which it turns and is sup]iorted. To dimini.'^h friction
gudgeons are made as small as possible in diameter, consistent with their weight. They
are often made of c;ist iron, on account of its cheapness, but wrought iron of the same
dimensions is stronger, and will support a greater load.
Gcilloche. (Fr.) An ornament in the form of two or more bands or strings twisting
over each other, so as to repeat the same figure, in a continued series, by the spiral
returning of the bands. The term is applied, but improperly so, to a Frkt.
GiiLA, or GoLA, or Gueulb. (It.) Synonymous with Cymatium.
Gunter's Chain. One used for measuring land, and taking its name from its reputed
inventor. It is 66 feet, or 4 poles, long, and divided into 100 links, each whereof is
joined to the adjacent one by three rings
;
the length of each link, including the adja-
cent rings, is therefore 7"02 inches. The advantage of the measure is in the facility it
affords to numerical calculation. Thus the English acre, containing 4,840 yards, and
Gunter's chain being 22 yards long, it follows that a square chain is exactly the tenth
part of an acre, consequently the contents of a field being cast up in square links, it is
only necessary to divide by 100,000, or to cut off the last five figures, to obtain the con-
tents expressed in acres.
GrRGOTLE. See Gargoyle.
GuTTyK. See Drops.
GiTTRR and Guttering. A canal to the roofs of houses, to receive and carry off
rain-
water. Gutters are made of metal or of tiles, which are either plain or concave
;
these