Barrel vault

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
barrel vault
    n 1: the simplest form of vault; a single continuous arch
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Vault \Vault\ (v[add]lt; see Note, below), n. [OE. voute, OF.
   voute, volte, F. vo[^u]te, LL. volta, for voluta, volutio,
   fr. L. volvere, volutum, to roll, to turn about. See
   {Voluble}, and cf. {Vault} a leap, {Volt} a turn, {Volute}.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. (Arch.) An arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling
      or canopy.
      [1913 Webster]

            The long-drawn aisle and fretted vault. --Gray.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. An arched apartment; especially, a subterranean room, used
      for storing articles, for a prison, for interment, or the
      like; a cell; a cellar. "Charnel vaults." --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

            The silent vaults of death.           --Sandys.
      [1913 Webster]

            To banish rats that haunt our vault.  --Swift.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The canopy of heaven; the sky.
      [1913 Webster]

            That heaven's vault should crack.     --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. [F. volte, It. volta, originally, a turn, and the same
      word as volta an arch. See the Etymology above.] A leap or
      bound. Specifically:
      (a) (Man.) The bound or leap of a horse; a curvet.
      (b) A leap by aid of the hands, or of a pole, springboard,
          or the like.
          [1913 Webster]

   Note: The l in this word was formerly often suppressed in
         pronunciation.
         [1913 Webster]

   {Barrel vault}, {Cradle vault}, {Cylindrical vault}, or
   {Wagon vault} (Arch.), a kind of vault having two parallel
      abutments, and the same section or profile at all points.
      It may be rampant, as over a staircase (see {Rampant
      vault}, under {Rampant}), or curved in plan, as around the
      apse of a church.

   {Coved vault}. (Arch.) See under 1st {Cove}, v. t.

   {Groined vault} (Arch.), a vault having groins, that is, one
      in which different cylindrical surfaces intersect one
      another, as distinguished from a barrel, or wagon, vault.
      

   {Rampant vault}. (Arch.) See under {Rampant}.

   {Ribbed vault} (Arch.), a vault differing from others in
      having solid ribs which bear the weight of the vaulted
      surface. True Gothic vaults are of this character.

   {Vault light}, a partly glazed plate inserted in a pavement
      or ceiling to admit light to a vault below.
      [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Barrel \Bar"rel\ (b[a^]r"r[e^]l), n.[OE. barel, F. baril, prob.
   fr. barre bar. Cf. {Barricade}.]
   1. A round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth,
      and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with
      hoops, and having flat ends or heads; as, a cracker
      barrel. Sometimes applied to a similar cylindrical
      container made of metal, usually called a {drum}.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

   2. The quantity which constitutes a full barrel. This varies
      for different articles and also in different places for
      the same article, being regulated by custom or by law. A
      barrel of wine is 311/2 gallons; a barrel of flour is 196
      pounds.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A solid drum, or a hollow cylinder or case; as, the barrel
      of a windlass; the barrel of a watch, within which the
      spring is coiled.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. A metallic tube, as of a gun, from which a projectile is
      discharged. --Knight.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. A jar. [Obs.] --1 Kings xvii. 12.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. (Zool.) The hollow basal part of a feather.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Barrel bulk} (Com.), a measure equal to five cubic feet,
      used in estimating capacity, as of a vessel for freight.
      

   {Barrel drain} (Arch.), a drain in the form of a cylindrical
      tube.

   {Barrel of a boiler}, the cylindrical part of a boiler,
      containing the flues.

   {Barrel of the ear} (Anat.), the tympanum, or tympanic
      cavity.

   {Barrel organ}, an instrument for producing music by the
      action of a revolving cylinder.

   {Barrel vault}. See under {Vault}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

[email protected]