GLOSSARY.

1317
Mkchanical Carpentry. That branch of carpentry which relates to the disposition of
the timbers of a building in respect of their relative strength and the strains to which
they are subjected.
Mechanical Powers. See Machine.
Mechanics. (Gr. MrjX"*^. machine.) That science in natural philosophy treating of
forces and powers, and their action on bodies, either directly or by the intervention of
machinery. The theory of mechanics is founded on an axiom or principle, called the
law
of
imrtia, namely, that a body must remain for ever in a sUate of rest, or in a state
of ULilorm or rectilineal motion, if undisturbed by the action of an external cause.
Theoretical mechanics consists, therefore, of two parts :
Statics, which treats of the
equilibrium of forces
;
and di/7iamics, or the science of accelerating or retarding forces,
and the actions they produce. When the bodies under consideration are in a fluid
state, these equilibria become respectively hydrostatics and hj/drodi,tiamu.s.
Medallion. A square, or more properly, a circular, tablet, on which are embossed
figures, busts, and the like.
Mbdleval Architecture. The architecture of England and the Continent during the
Middle Ages. It is also chiefly called Gothic and Pointed.
Megalithic. a term which has lately been applied to those works usually called Celtic
and Druidical. .
Mehrab. a niche in a mosque of the Mahomedans which marks the direction of the
Kebla or temple at Mecca, to which their religion directs them to bow their face in
praying.
Member. (Lat.) Any part of an edifice ; or any moulding in a collection of mouldings,
as of those in a cornice, capital, base, &c.
Menagerie. (Fr.) A building for the housing and preservation of rare and foreign
animals. The ancient Romans of opulence usually had private menageries, a sort of
small park attached to their villa, and in them various kinds of animals were placed.
Menhir. See Maenhir.
Mensa. The slab, top, or table of the altar of the Roman Catholic Church.
Mensuration. (Lat.) The science which teaches the method of estimating the magni-
tudes of lines, superficies, and bodies.
Meridian Line. A line tracedon the surface of the earth coinciding with the intersect i^'Q
of the meridian of the place with the sensible horizon. It is therefore a line which lies
due north and south. In Italy these lines have been laid in large churches, as at Santi
Maria del Fioreat Florence, the Duomo at Bologna, &c. They are traced on brass rods
let into the pavement of the church, and marked with the signs, and otherwise graduated.
A hole in the roof permits the sun's rays to fall on them at his culmination, thus marking
noon as well as its height each day in the heavens.
Merlon. The plain parts of an embattled parapet, between the crenelles or embrasures.
Meros. (Gr.) The plane face between the channels in a triglyph. See Triglyph.
Mksaul^. (Gr.) Described by Vitruvius as itinera or passages
; they were, however,
smaller courts. ApoUonius Rhodius, in describing the reception of the Argonauts at
the palace of .35etes, conducts them first into the vestibule, then through the folding
gates into the mesaula, which had thalami here and there, and a portico (aiQavaa) on every
side.
Meta. (Lat.) A mark or goal in the Roman circus to which the chariots, &c., ran.
Metal. (Gt. MeroAAov.) A firm, heavy, and hard substance, opaque, fusible by tire, and
concreting again when cold into a solid body such as it was before
;
generally malleable
under the hammer, and of a bright glossy and glittering substance where newly cut or
broken. The metals conduct electricity and heat, ami have not been resolved into other
forms of matter, so that they are regarded as simple or elementary substances. They
also reflect, when polished, both light and heat. Modern chemists have carried the
number of metals to over forty-two, only seven whereof were known to the ancients
;
namely,

\. Gold, whose symbol is thus marked

Q
; 2. Silver,
]) ; 3. Iron,
^ ; 4. Cop-
per,
$
;
5. Mercury,
$
;
6. Lead,
^
; 7. Tin, 2^.
Metatomb. (Gr. Mero. and tfixvw, I cut.) The space or interval between two dentels.
Metoche.
(Probably from MTfX''i I divide.) In ancient architecture a term used by
Vitruvius to denote the interval or space between the dentels of the Ionic, or triglyphs
of the Doric order. Baldus observes that in an ancient MS. copy of that author, the
word metatome is used instead of metoche. This made Daviler suspect that the common
text of Vitruvius is corrupt, and that the word should not be metoclie but metatome,
as it were section.
Metopa. (Gr. Mera, between, and Ottt;, a hole.) The square space in the frieze between
the trigl^'phs of the Doric order: it is left either plain or decorated, according to the
taste of the architect. In very ancient examples of this order the metopa was left quite
open. Figs. 1414 and 1415 represent two sculptures from the Parthenon at Athens.
Metre. The French unit of length (see Measure), from whence is derived their metrical
svetem now followed by many other nations.